When US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveils later today what he has called an “economic D-Day” against Iran, the real test will lie elsewhere. After decades of sanctions, Iran’s economy is weakened but not isolated. Its most important economic lifeline runs through China, which buys the overwhelming majority of Iranian oil, provides critical trade channels and sits at the center of financial networks that have helped Tehran withstand Western pressure.
Whether President Donald Trump can turn the sanctions campaign into meaningful leverage over Iran will depend less on measures announced against Iranian entities and more on how aggressively it is willing to confront Chinese companies, banks and shipping networks that keep Iran connected to global markets.
