5 Nations Face Trump Sanctions Over Iran Ties
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Monday of potential consequences for countries continuing economic activities with Iran, though he did not name specific nations. Experts suggest China, India, Turkey, Iraq, and the UAE are most vulnerable to US pressure. China is Iran's largest trading partner and primary oil buyer, with bilateral trade reaching $38 billion in 2022. However, analysts note Washington may hesitate to impose severe measures on Beijing given complex US-China relations. The UAE has already suspended all commercial and financial dealings with Tehran last week. Turkey maintains close economic ties with Iran, importing 13% of its natural gas needs from Tehran, while Iraq relies heavily on Iranian electricity and gas imports. India's trade with Iran has declined to $1.6 billion. The US launched "Operation Economic Pariah" against Iran Monday, intensifying financial pressure on Tehran.