U.S. Threatens China With Sanctions On Iranian Oil Imports

13 Jul 2019 · 3 min
3:15

In a Persian‑language interview recorded in Washington, D.C., oil‑energy analyst Omid Shokri explains how Iran’s crude oil exports to China have been reshaped by U.S. sanctions. He outlines the pre‑sanction trade volumes—China importing roughly 8 million barrels per day of crude, of which 750‑860 k bpd came from Iran—and describes how, after sanctions tightened, Iran turned to a gray‑market system to keep oil flowing. Shokri details the clandestine tactics used: ship‑to‑ship transfers, turning off the Automatic Identification System (AIS) on tankers, and exploiting China’s extensive coastline and ports such as Dalian, where up to 20 million barrels are reportedly stored. He argues that the U.S. threat of secondary sanctions on Chinese entities has forced China to rely more heavily on these covert channels, turning the China‑Iran oil relationship into a “gray‑market” lifeline for Tehran while exposing Beijing to heightened risk. The interview concludes with Shokri emphasizing that despite the sanctions, Iran still manages to move oil to East‑Asian markets through these covert mechanisms.

Chapters

More from Dr.

9:37
youtube.com

August 10, 2026

2mo ago
youtube.com

Iran, Hormuz and the Hidden Energy Shock: Dr. Umud Shokri

4mo ago
youtube.com

Iran Energy Attacks To Hasten Global Recession

7mo ago
youtube.com

Trump seeks $100bn for Venezuela oil, but Exxon boss says country 'uninvestable'

9mo ago
youtube.com

Episode 52: Impact of Iran Israel Conflict on Global Oil and Energy Supply | Dr. Umud Shokri

1y ago
youtube.com

Antarctica @almashhadmedia

2y ago
youtube.com

Shell withdrawal from Iraq energy sector. @AlhurraIraq @alhurra

2y ago
youtube.com

Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF)

2y ago
youtube.com

Yemen’s Houthi rebels attack a US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden with bomb-carrying drone

2y ago
youtube.com

Oil Market 2024

2y ago
youtube.com

Oil market 2024

2y ago
See all content