Report reveals how China built sanctions-evasion machine that funds Iran’s retaliations against US-Israeli war
According to the findings, China now purchases nearly all of Iran’s oil exports, amounting to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day in 2025—more than double the volume imported prior to the “maximum pressure” campaign introduced under former U.S. President Donald Trump.
A new report claims that China has developed an extensive system enabling Iran to bypass international sanctions, significantly boosting Tehran’s oil exports and economic resilience.
According to the findings, China now purchases nearly all of Iran’s oil exports, amounting to approximately 1.4 million barrels per day in 2025—more than double the volume imported prior to the “maximum pressure” campaign introduced under former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The report describes a sophisticated network designed to obscure the origin of Iranian crude. This includes so-called “shadow fleets” of tankers that allegedly change identities, disable tracking systems, and conduct ship-to-ship transfers to disguise shipments. Oil is reportedly relabeled as originating from countries such as Oman or Malaysia before entering global markets.
Financial channels are also said to play a key role. Payments for the oil reportedly move through smaller Chinese institutions, including Bank of Kunlun, which have limited exposure to U.S. sanctions. In some cases, transactions are conducted through barter arrangements, with Chinese firms undertaking infrastructure projects in Iran instead of direct payments.
Despite official Chinese customs data reportedly showing no recorded imports of Iranian crude since 2023, independent tracking—such as satellite monitoring—suggests continued large-scale flows.
U.S. authorities are said to be aware of these practices but have taken limited action, reportedly due to concerns that stricter enforcement could disrupt global oil markets and strain economic ties between Washington and Beijing.
The Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies was cited in the report as stating that Iran’s ability to sustain its activities would be significantly diminished without longstanding Chinese support.
The report, attributed to The Wall Street Journal, highlights the complex geopolitical and economic factors shaping enforcement of sanctions and their global impact.
However, neither China nor Russia has hidden its support for Iran against United States of America and Israel’s aggression, underscoring that it is needless for any report to make it look like making any revelation.
