Sourced fact
The News
According to The Times of Israel, Iran has warned any country that cooperates with the new US sanctions that it will be considered an enemy. The United States has presented these sanctions as "the toughest in history," and is urging China, one of Iran's top trading partners, to cooperate. Oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains near a standstill.
Analysis & context
Analysis & Context
From an analytical perspective, these Iranian threats are part of broader tensions between Iran and the United States since America's withdrawal from the nuclear agreement in 2018. The new US sanctions aim to reduce Iran's global economic role, particularly in the oil sector. In a wider context, China plays a crucial role in this conflict due to its extensive trade with Iran, thus increasing the pressure on Beijing to make delicate decisions on how to deal with the new US sanctions.