US Escalates Iran Pressure with Broad Sanctions, China Threatens Retaliation

The United States has intensified its "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, moving beyond targeting oil to encompass gold, digital assets, aviation, shipping, and technology industries. This broad "economic D-Day" strategy aims to cripple Iran's economy and deter international engagement, with Washington threatening sanctions against any nation or entity that continues to do business with Tehran.

However, this aggressive approach has drawn sharp criticism and threats of retaliation from China, a major trading partner for Iran. Beijing has condemned the new U.S. sanctions as "illegal" and warned of countermeasures, potentially escalating tensions between the two global powers. Experts also caution that while the U.S. seeks to avoid military conflict, the severe economic squeeze on Iran could inadvertently provoke retaliation and regional military escalation, despite the U.S. reportedly preparing to return diplomats to Middle East embassies.