THE RUNDOWN | Turkey has developed ties with Iran over the Syria conflict and may consider defying Trump and purchase Iranian oil. Would it do so after S-400 purchase from Russia? TRT World’s Ali Mustafa analyzes.
Story: China warned Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will “intensify turmoil” in the Middle East and in the international energy market. “China firmly opposes the US implementation of unilateral sanctions and its so-called long-armed jurisdiction,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. “The relevant move by the United States will intensify the turmoil in the Middle East and the turmoil in the international energy market.” China is one of several Iranian oil buyers that could face American sanctions in the wake of the US decision to stop issuing exemptions for certain countries to continue purchasing Iranian crude. The aggressive move against Tehran could open up new friction in the already contentious relationship between Washington and Beijing. In seeking to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero, the Trump administration is targeting the country’s top revenue maker in its latest no-holds-barred move to crush the economy and scale back the Islamic regime’s influence. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia announced, in an apparently coordinated move with its ally the United States, that it was committed to “stabilizing” the oil market in the wake of new US sanctions. The US, Saudi Arabia and Israel see eye to eye when it comes to Iran and what they consider Tehran’s aggressive and destabilizing behavior in the region. Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Iran, the predominant Shiite power have for decades stood on opposing sides of conflicts in the Middle East. As Saudi and Iranian relations have bifurcated, Israel has been capitalizing on shared hostility towards Tehran and behind the scenes improvements in their ties have accelerated in recent years. Since taking office, China has led concerted effort to expand influence in the Middle East and Africa, including the construction of the country’s first military base in Arab League state Djibouti.
: China warned Tuesday that the US decision to impose sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil will “intensify turmoil” in the Middle East and in the international energy market. “China firmly opposes the US implementation of unilateral sanctions and its so-called long-armed jurisdiction,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing. “The relevant move by the United States will intensify the turmoil in the Middle East and the turmoil in the international energy market.” China is one of several Iranian oil buyers that could face American sanctions in the wake of the US decision to stop issuing exemptions for certain countries to continue purchasing Iranian crude. The aggressive move against Tehran could open up new friction in the already contentious relationship between Washington and Beijing. In seeking to reduce Iran’s oil exports to zero, the Trump administration is targeting the country’s top revenue maker in its latest no-holds-barred move to crush the economy and scale back the Islamic regime’s influence. Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia announced, in an apparently coordinated move with its ally the United States, that it was committed to “stabilizing” the oil market in the wake of new US sanctions. The US, Saudi Arabia and Israel see eye to eye when it comes to Iran and what they consider Tehran’s aggressive and destabilizing behavior in the region. Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia and Iran, the predominant Shiite power have for decades stood on opposing sides of conflicts in the Middle East. As Saudi and Iranian relations have bifurcated, Israel has been capitalizing on shared hostility towards Tehran and behind the scenes improvements in their ties have accelerated in recent years. Since taking office, China has led concerted effort to expand influence in the Middle East and Africa, including the construction of the country’s first military base in Arab League state Djibouti.