How can China use Iran's oil sanctions to obtain concessions in the trade war

But recent history shows that Beijing intends to intensify its trade relations with Tehran and not to weaken them.

Shortly after the announcement by the Trump administration of sanctions, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif met with foreign leaders. His first visit was in Beijing. Following this visit, the official Chinese Xinhua News Agency announced the launch of a new rail link between Bayannur, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Iran. According to Xinhua announcement, the new railway line will speed up 20 days travel time compared to freight shipments, as part of the $ 124 billion Belt and Road Initiative. from Beijing. The broader initiative aims to build new infrastructure between China and Europe, funding multi-billion-dollar projects led by Chinese in Iran to build railways, highways, harbors and power plants.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters, "China is still opposed to unilateral sanctions and long-term jurisdiction."

Analysts predict that the oil market will become more and more unpredictable in the coming months. In recent trading, oil prices have been seen as the potential impact of a trade war on global demand, and Iranian sanctions on supply have created a short-term stalemate. "The market will be struggling for the next two months until the fall of Iranian exports materializes," said Monday the director of the National Economic Council of the White House, Larry Kudlow, at a news conference. press conference. an agreement with Chinese officials has been positive, President Xi refuses to compromise on Beijing's trade policy.

"I do not think that President Xi intends to follow up on the discussion we had, and I think that the President is so dissatisfied with China on these so-called talks that it's not going to happen. it keeps up the pressure – and I support that, "said Kudlow in an interview at the CNBC Delivering Alpha conference in New York.

Hua Chunying, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, fought back at a briefing planned in Beijing last Thursday, stating: "The US official has misrepresented the facts unexpectedly and has made false accusations [that are] shocking She added: "The U-turn of the United States and the breaking of promises are recognized worldwide."