{
  "id": 6091650,
  "title": "China is not scared of Trump’s squeeze on Iran",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/china-is-not-scared-of-trumps-squeeze-on-iran",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T03:20:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Al Majalla English",
    "slug": "al-majalla-english",
    "url": "https://en.majalla.com/node/332914/politics/china-not-scared-trump%E2%80%99s-squeeze-iran"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Trump administration's recent \"economic D-Day\" against Iran, announced by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aims to sever Iran's economic lifelines. Iran's largest lifeline, China, receives some estimates suggesting that around 90% of Iran's oil is shipped there through shadow fleets. China also offers access to the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) and has seen a rise in its daily transfer volumes since the Iran war began.\n\nDespite China's potential to be impacted, Beijing appears unalarmed by the US pressure campaign. The Chinese foreign ministry labeled the announcement as \"illegal\" but went no further, while a Chinese analyst called it an \"act of helplessness.\" Some private Chinese media outlets noted the vagueness and slow pace of the new US sanctions. However, China has previously warned of retaliation if the US targets its companies, and President Xi Jinping acknowledges the country's retaliatory capabilities.\n\nChina's most potent tool is its ability to impose sanctions on rare earth exports, which could significantly disrupt US manufacturing, particularly in the defense sector. While the US has been developing alternative supply chains, it has struggled to reduce its reliance on China.",
  "summary": "China is not scared of Trump’s squeeze on Iran newspress_en Mon, 09/07/2026 - 04:20 Politics There is a fatal flaw in the Trump administration’s recently announced “economic D-Day” against Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declared that the new US sanctions and pressure campaign was designed to “sever every economic lifeline that sustains the tyrannical regime” in Iran. But Iran’s single…",
  "key_points": [
    "China receives 90% of Iran's oil imports through shadow fleets.",
    "Chinese foreign ministry labels US sanctions as \"illegal.\"",
    "China warns of retaliation if US targets its companies."
  ],
  "editors_take": "China's muted response to the US pressure campaign on Iran suggests it is willing to weather the squeeze, emboldened by its retaliatory capabilities, particularly control of rare earth exports.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "CNBC Daily Open: Trump's ‘little excursion’ becomes an uphill battle as Iran war continues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/cnbc-daily-open-trumps-little-excursion-becomes-an-uphill-battle-as",
        "published": "2026-09-07T01:29:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}