US views Chinese imports as weakening ‘maximum pressure’ China importing an estimated 150,000-200,000 b/d of Iranian crude The US will sanction China if it continues to import Iranian crude in violation of American sanctions, a US Department of State spokeswoman warned Thursday. “We’re going to zero [exports of Iranian crude] and … countries that don’t abide by US sanctions will face repercussions for not abiding by US sanctions,” Morgan Ortagus, the spokeswoman, said during a briefing Thursday. “That goes for China or any other country in the world. We expect all countries to abide by US sanctions.” The US, which re-imposed oil sanctions on Iran in November, allowed sanctions waivers given to Iran’s biggest crude and condensate buyers to expire in early May. US officials are wrestling with how to stop China from importing Iranian […]