Trump shocks world by allowing China to continue purchasing Iranian oil
Hintis at possible easing of sanctions on Iranian energy exports
US President Donald Trump has said that China can continue to purchase oil from Iran and hopes that they will also buy plenty of it from the United States, a move that could signal a softening of the long-standing US sanctions on Iranian energy exports.
Taking to a social media platform, Trump remarked, "China can now continue to purchase oil from Iran. Hopefully, they are also buying in large quantities from the United States. That would be a great honor for me."
His statement was widely interpreted as a departure from the strict sanctions policy that was a hallmark of his previous administration’s "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran.
Although there has been no official announcement from US authorities regarding the lifting of sanctions, Trump's comment is being viewed by analysts and international observers as an informal endorsement that could lead to relaxed enforcement, especially for China—one of the largest importers of Iranian crude.