Former U.S. President Donald Trump has escalated pressure on Iran, warning of unprecedented economic sanctions and “massive economic consequences” for any country providing support to Tehran. In a social media post, Trump claimed he had offered Iran an opportunity to reach a deal with the United States—but said Tehran failed to seize it. He described the forthcoming measures as the largest economic operation ever imposed on a single nation, dubbing it an “economic D-Day.”
Secondary Sanctions Loom Over Key Trading Partners
This latest U.S. threat extends beyond Iran itself—it targets foreign governments and companies continuing commercial ties with Tehran. According to Reuters, several of Iran’s most important trade partners now face potential secondary sanctions.
China: Iran’s Largest Oil Buyer
China is by far Iran’s biggest purchaser of crude oil—accounting for over 80% of Iran’s oil exports. Data from analytics firm Kpler shows Chinese imports averaged 1.38 million barrels per day in 2025. In recent years, China has built a network of independent refineries that process large volumes of Iranian crude while maintaining limited exposure to U.S. markets. Iranian oil is often rebranded as originating from third countries, and transactions are frequently conducted in Chinese yuan through complex trade networks.
The U.S. has already sanctioned at least one Chinese independent refinery for buying Iranian oil—and has warned Chinese banks about possible secondary sanctions if they continue facilitating such trade.
United Arab Emirates: A Critical Financial Conduit
The UAE long served as one of Iran’s most vital economic gateways. In 2024, it accounted for roughly 30% of Iran’s imports—worth around $21 billion—and 13% of its exports. Non-oil trade between the two nations reached $6.6 billion that year, mostly involving re-exports.
However, those ties have sharply deteriorated. This week, the UAE suspended all financial and economic transactions with Iran pending further notice, citing rising military tensions and the risk of missile attacks.
Turkey: Energy and Industrial Trade Ties
Turkey maintains significant economic links with Iran—importing Iranian natural gas while exporting industrial and manufactured goods. Bilateral trade hovers around $5–6 billion annually, with Turkish exports to Iran totaling approximately $3 billion.
Energy cooperation remains especially critical: Iranian gas supplies roughly 13% of Turkey’s total natural gas imports. So far, Ankara has shown no indication of scaling back these energy ties.