US President Donald Trump on Thursday has hinted that his administration may be preparing sanctions targeting Chinese banks over their links to Iran, in what would be a major escalation of Washington’s attempts to isolate Tehran, AFP reports.
China is Tehran’s biggest trading partner, particularly when it comes to oil. Chinese banks continue to handle payments related to those and other forms of trade between the countries.
Asked by reporters at an event in the Oval Office whether he would sanction Chinese banks over such transactions, Trump has responded with his own question.
“Who said I’m not?” he says cryptically. “I mean, who said I’m not? You don’t know if I’m doing it. Well, I don’t have to announce everything, do I?”
The US Treasury has not so far issued any sanctions against major Chinese banks, although it has sanctioned several companies in mainland China and Hong Kong it accuses of aiding the Iranian government and armed forces.
