A US-China showdown over Iran that I long expected is now heating up. 
US Sanctions 5 Chinese Oil Refiners
The Wall Street Journal reports China’s ‘Teapot’ Refiners, Targeted by U.S., Offer Financial Lifeline to Iran
- The U.S. is intensifying efforts to cut off Iran’s oil trade with China by targeting privately run Chinese “teapot” refiners.
- The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned a Hengli Petrochemical unit and 40 shipping firms it said were involved in the Iranian oil trade.
- Chinese teapot refiners use yuan for trade and operate independently, allowing Beijing to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
While the U.S. moves to squeeze Iran by blockading its ports and intercepting tankers, Washington has taken new steps in recent days to target the privately run Chinese refiners, known as “teapots,” that soak up nearly every barrel of oil Iran exports.
But the teapots are survivors, having endured not only U.S. sanctions but also efforts by the Chinese government itself—in the years before they became so useful to Beijing—to shut them down.
For China, the more than 100 teapot refiners are a critical tool for working around U.S. sanctions
Some companies involved in the Iran trade have grown less scared of sanctions, said Emma Li, a China analyst at ship-tracking firm Vortexa. “The sanctioned market itself has become so big that people feel like, ‘Oh, sanctions are not that bad.’ ”
Iranian front companies help facilitate payments, U.S. officials say. Five teapot refiners have been targeted by U.S. sanctions since last year.
Unlike large state refiners, the teapots have few overseas assets and less to lose if they get cut off from the U.S. banking system. They can also settle the trade with Iran in Chinese yuan instead of dollars. This has insulated them from the effects of sanctions and provided China with a workaround to keep the oil flowing.
The trade is now so large that shutting it down completely would be difficult, if not impossible, energy analysts say. To succeed, they say, the U.S. would have to take far more drastic steps such as intercepting many more ships or destroying Iranian energy-export infrastructure.
Hengli said this week that it was operating normally despite the sanctions and would continue to settle crude-oil purchases in yuan instead of dollars. Its stock price initially dropped by around 10% on news of the sanctions before gaining back much of what it lost.
Sanctions Don’t Work
Once again we see that sanctions don’t work. I have commented on this numerous times but it’s worth another repeat.
On September 19, 2023, I noted Lesson of the Day: Sanctions Don’t Work Because They Create New Markets
A person who touted a buyer’s cartel sanction success, now complains the buyers cartel leaks like a sieve.
Iran Response to the Sanctions
Iran responded to the US with an Official Statement on the Sanctions.
Grok Translation
MOFCOM Spokesperson Answers Reporter’s Questions on Blocking U.S. Sanctions Measures Against 5 Chinese Enterprises Involved in Iran Oil Transactions
Date: May 2, 2026 Question: On May 2, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued an order to block U.S. sanctions measures against five Chinese enterprises — Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining Co., Ltd., Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd., Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., Ltd. — which were targeted for inclusion on the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, asset freezes, and transaction bans on the grounds of alleged involvement in Iran-related petroleum transactions. What are the considerations behind this?
Answer: Since 2025, the United States has, under its executive orders sanctioning other countries, added the above-mentioned Chinese enterprises to the SDN list and imposed sanctions such as asset freezes and transaction prohibitions, citing their alleged participation in Iran petroleum transactions. These actions improperly prohibit or restrict the Chinese enterprises from engaging in normal economic, trade, and related activities with third countries (regions) and their citizens, legal persons, or other organizations. This violates international law and the basic norms of international relations.
To safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal persons, or other organizations, MOFCOM has issued a blocking order in accordance with the Rules on Counteracting the Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures and the results of relevant working mechanism assessments. The order stipulates that the U.S. sanctions measures against the above five Chinese enterprises shall not be recognized, enforced, or complied with.
The Chinese government has always opposed unilateral sanctions that lack authorization from the United Nations or a basis in international law. The issuance of this blocking order is a concrete action to implement the aforementioned rules in accordance with the law. It does not affect China’s assumption and fulfillment of international obligations, nor does it affect China’s protection of the legitimate rights and interests of foreign-invested enterprises in accordance with the law. MOFCOM will continue to closely monitor unjustified extraterritorial applications of laws and measures by relevant countries. If situations stipulated in the blocking rules arise, relevant work will be carried out in accordance with the law.
Excellent Commentary on What this Means
So the real takeaway is this: China’s refusal is not just about Iran. It is about whether the United States can still enforce geopolitical discipline through unilateral sanctions when rival powers have developed parallel trade networks, non-dollar settlement channels, and enough market scale to absorb the pressure. If this model holds, the future of sanctions enforcement will depend less on announcing penalties and more on whether Washington can close the logistical, financial, and maritime loopholes that now sustain this shadow energy architecture.
Unilateral Coercive Measures
There is no basis in international law for these sanctions. I side with the law. That means I side with China. So be it.
- There is no clear or widely accepted basis in international law requiring China (or any other sovereign state) to honor or comply with these specific U.S. sanctions. The U.S. sanctions themselves rest primarily on U.S. domestic law, but their extraterritorial application as secondary sanctions against third-country entities is highly contested and widely regarded by most legal scholars, states (including China and the EU), and UN experts as lacking a firm foundation in international law. academic.oup.com
- There is no binding UN Security Council resolution mandating or authorizing these specific measures against third-country buyers of Iranian oil. While the UNSC did reimpose (snap back) certain Iran-related sanctions in September 2025 for non-compliance with nuclear obligations, those are targeted (e.g., arms, nuclear items, some petroleum restrictions on Iran itself) and do not require or endorse U.S.-style secondary sanctions on Chinese (or other) entities abroad.
- The majority view among international lawyers, the UN Human Rights Council, the EU, China, and many Global South states is that such unilateral coercive measures (when not authorized by the UNSC or justified as lawful countermeasures) are unlawful or at least illegitimate. They are seen as coercive economic pressure rather than lawful enforcement. Yale Journal of International Law on Unilateral Coercive Measures.
- States have no general obligation to enforce or recognize another state’s unilateral sanctions. International law only imposes binding compliance duties for UN Security Council measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.
Legal Summation
The sanctions are lawful under U.S. law and effective due to U.S. economic power, but they lack broad acceptance as lawful under international law when applied extraterritorially to non-U.S. companies.
This is a classic clash of jurisdictions. The U.S. asserts extraterritorial reach based on its domestic authority and economic leverage; China (and most of the international community outside the U.S.) rejects it as unjustified overreach.
There is no international court ruling directly resolving this exact dispute, but the weight of state practice and scholarly opinion supports China’s position that it has no obligation to honor these measures.
Both Sides Proclaim a Blockade Victory
Since sanctions failed, like they always do, Trump resorted to a naval blockade, an act of war.
The war has now gone on longer than 60 days, and Trump needs approval from Congress to continue. He violates the law and MAGA cheers.
But the interesting thing is MAGA and some economists have already declared the blockade a victory despite Iran not conceding.
Coercion, Illegal Threats, Unconstitutional Executive Orders, Treaty Violations
- Threat to invade Greenland
- Breaking USMCA, a treaty Trump negotiated
- Threat to leave NATO
- Illegal Tariffs
- Unconstitutional EO on Birthright Citizenship
- Unconstitutional EO on voting
- Weaponizing the DOJ
- Massive Trump-family graft in pardons for money, crypto meme coins, and insider trading
- War crimes – Blowing up civilians clinging to wreckage ne Venezuela
- War crimes – Blowing up a children’s hospital in Iran
- Illegal deportations to third countries despite court orders
- Illegal searches and entries of homes without warrants in violation of the Constitution
- No war declared in Iran and 60 day limit to get approval from Congress has passed
This is the most law-disrespectful president in the history of the United States by far.
Numerous points above are grounds for impeachment, and it’s highly likely Trump will be impeached for a third time.
Since the only Trump understands is force, expect China to cut off rare earth elements soon if Trump does not end the blockade.
How Delusional MAGA Supporters Think
Is Anyone Anywhere Pleased with a Trump Deal?
This Stumbling Is Downright Funny
Back in the Real World
Gasoline Is 59 Cents from Record High, Diesel Only 19 Cents Away
For two views on who is winning the blockade war (Iran and the US each have their own effective blockade), please see Gasoline Is 59 Cents from Record High, Diesel Only 19 Cents Away
Hello consumers and farmers. Are you tired of winning yet?
Too Late to Fix
It is amusing for two diametrically opposing positions to see victory out of this. One is wrong.
Regardless, this is now too late to fix. People are sick of Trump and there is going to be a Republican bloodbath in November.
For discussion, please see How Big Will the “Blue Wave” Be in the Midterm Elections?
I expect Republicans will lose nearly every seat the consensus now labels as tossup.
And in case you missed it, please see Thailand Turns to Russia and China for Iran War Help Because US Offers None
Thailand is approaching Russia and China amid its economic crisis.
Only fitting just a business day after Trump says “Iran hostilities Terminated” that the shooting starts again.
Trump can’t breath without lying.
LOL. Our dollar, your problem. I think the world has had enough of the Federal Reserve Note. 350 billion people trying to tell 8 billion people what they can do and who they can trade with isn’t going to work. At this point, the behavior of the Trump administration really is laughable. He is doing everything that he railed against during his campaign and doing it bigly. Exploding the national debt, more wars. It should be clear to everyone at this point that the republic is lost. Hedge accordingly.
China: “Okay USA, you want to be the big bad global policeman? Get out there and do it, big guy!”
I have not heard Iran’s response to Trump’s claim that the US will begin escorting ships through the strait of Hormuz.
Perhaps this is their response.
A tanker was just reported hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, and this has been confirmed by multiple maritime security sources.
🚨 What happenedAcross four independent reports (AOL, Reuters, Al‑Monitor, and The Hindu), the same incident is confirmed:
All four sources describe the same event, with consistent details.
To be sure this happened, we should verify that Trump has called it Fake Newz
The summer of discontent
Banks looking for parties to offload the riskiest tranches of data center investments
Got space in your portfolio?
Maybe know of a friendly President to backstop issuance?
How about a new Fed Chair with deep ties to the AI sector ?
This war on Iran is the biggest strategic military mistake in the history of the US.
Sanctioning China is a joke. Right now the US does not even have enough gallium to outfit new F-35’s with radars. Not to mention the Iranians were smart enough to take out most of the fixed US radars in the Middle East in the first couple weeks of the latest war. Billions of dollars worth.
Going forward US military bases will have to be mostly underground and most of the military radars will have to be mobile.
I knew our military industrial complex was sclerotic and corrupt but did not realize just how bad it had gotten in the last decade. Obviously the current administration has not learned a goddam thing by the looks of this $1.5 trillion military budget complete with battleships???? Yeah right, giant floating coffins. Nice big slow missile and drone targets…
The Iranians have been strategically not targeting US Navy ships for fear of large American casualty events plus the US Navy has been keeping ships out of missile and drone range.
It’s not just Dr Mearshimer saying this now, lots of folks joining the “This is even worse than the Iraq War” chorus
Iran is probably doing it’s best to avoid US Military casualties knowing that would bring the American public to trump’s defense. Instead Iran is most likely depending on the economic side of the war to bring victory and it looks like they are winning. As time goes on and trump becomes more demented look for the rest of the world to fence the USA, moving the UN might signal the end for USA power.
Trump now says that the US Navy will begin escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday (tomorrow). We live in interesting times.
Wonder if if the Navy knows……
Apparently it will be an operation to escort ships OUT of the gulf. Not in. And only neutral ships from countries not involved in the dispute. A humanitarian gesture to help the ships and crews who have been trapped for 2 months and are now running out of food and basic supplies for the crews.
Not so fast:
“According to the Wall Street Journal, citing an unidentified U.S. official, the initiative does not currently include direct U.S. Navy escorts. Instead, it centers on coordination among governments, insurers and maritime organizations.”
Trump says U.S. to start guiding neutral ships from Persian Gulf under ‘Project Freedom’ | Seeking Alpha
I’ll have a side of imaginary fries with my nothing-burger, thanks.
Excellent link thanks. No navy escort. Probably as you say. Just another announcement of dubious imortance.
Trump must be doing this out of the kindness of his heart
That news should successfully keep the markets from crashing on Monday
Always difficult to know how markets will react. It doesn’t sound like the strait will be open for normal traffic. And Iran has not responded yet. But yes, this might be taken as a positive by markets.
I just don’t see this realistically happening on Monday. There is just too much risk for the ships. Will ship insurers really be OK with this without Iranian coordination, with the strait reportedly mined?! I just don’t see it happening without Iran’s cooperation.
I think the real purpose of this announcement is to prop up the markets, as well as to push Iran into letting US Navy ships go in and out of the gulf without their permission.
Trump has a history of making announcements of things that never happen. This could indeed be another example. If oil prices drop significantly tomorrow, as well as oil stocks, I will be buying the dip again.
Assuming this does happen in some form, insurance rates will rise on these ships as they are being escorted through an area of risk. Or they may refuse to provide insurance at all. Which means many ships will not be moving.
There seems to be a lack of clarity about where the mines are located. Nobody seems to know. Even the Iranians have said that the only “clear” area that they know of, is the channel between Larak island and their mainland (where they collect tolls).
One of the problems they’re having with Trump during this war – is that he announces things on Truth Social, that have not yet been declassified by the military.
I posted a question about the insurance companies complying with this and it got rejected, not sure why.
TL:DR Barron just got wicked short the market
If nothing else, this mockery of reality Trump is making has trained me well to be prepared to raise cash in an instant.
At the very least it’s trump’s attempt to juice the markets. Actually I think that is the ONLY reason. Trump doesn’t care in the slightest about the conditions or fate of the American public.
No doubt the purpose of the communication.
This is a great opportunity for a false flag event!
Truth is America needs to do something for its allies for entangling them in this small excursion against Iran least more daggers be put in its back.
He’ll boast about this being a benevolent act, but it’s just more word salad to reframe it as how great America is and distract from the fact that they hope this puts Iran on the offensive (these ships wont be paying a toll after all).
Perhaps. It will be interesting to see if very many ships get escorted through. There are 230 tankers holding 450 mb of oil sitting there. If they start exiting, then the price of oil could drop in anticipation of them all getting out. In addition ther are 30 Iranian tankers with another 50 mb.
Of course, we also need to see ships going back IN to the gulf in order for those countries to resume oil production.
Why would Iran agree to cede their control of the strait and ameliorate the world oil shortage (Iran’s main leverage in holding the strait)? So every oil tanker can leave the strait and deliver their oil except Iran’s tankers? And then the US determines whether a ship is allowed to re-enter the strait?
Why would Iran agree to this? I predict it won’t happen on Monday.
There are 2000 ships currently trapped inside the Gulf. Iran may be willing to let some of them out. Whether they will allow the 230 tankers out is another matter.
I do not expect Iran to directly challenge the US Navy, but if they do not want ships exiting, they can cause all kinds of grief for these merchant ships which will make them think twice before accepting an escort out.
At this point, we do not know what Iran’s response will be.
Thanks for your thoughts, it should be interesting to see what happens in the Persian Gulf (where it is already Monday)
Iran’s Regime doesn’t get to agree to anything. Where do you think they get such power?
All they can do is threaten to fire off some of their few remaining drones or missiles and if they do so, I am sure the military has Reapers above ready to immediately target any locations that are the source of fire.
Whatever are you smoking?
None will be allowed back in.
humanitarian? hmmm something in that word tells me this ‘opening’ was not Trumps idea
I follow Sal Mercogliano’s youtube channel “What’s Going On with Shipping”. He has been advocating for the thousands of merchant mariners stuck on ships in the Persian Gulf. They really do need help.
I wouldn’t want to be on any of the Navy ships going into and through the Straight of Hormuz to try to escort any ships out. It’s obviously a ruse to get Navy ships in to try to take Kharg Island. Trump doesn’t have a humanitarian bone in his body. We are about to find out how well Iran’s water based drones and anti-ship missiles work as well. It will not be pretty for the US Navy….most likely a much worse redux of the Gallipoli Campaign. And if a shooting war restarts and Iran makes good on their promise of 4x retaliation on ME infrastructure prepare for a second great depression and probably WW3.
I do not think that the US has any interest in “taking” Kharg Island.
I believe US Navy ships pretty much avoid the Strait of Hormuz…for fear they’ll be sunk by Iranian missiles or drones.
Read it, it’s just an old man spitballing into the void–no plan, no strategy…
…Countries from all over the World, almost all of which are not involved in the Middle Eastern dispute going on so visibly, and violently, for all to see, have asked the United States if we could help free up their Ships, which are locked up in the Strait of Hormuz, on something which they have absolutely nothing to do with — They are merely neutral and innocent bystanders! For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business. Again, these are Ships from areas of the World that are not in any way involved with that which is currently taking place in the Middle East. I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait. In all cases, they said they will not be returning until the area becomes safe for navigation, and everything else. This process, Project Freedom, will begin Monday morning, Middle East time. I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all. The Ship movement is merely meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong — They are victims of circumstance. This is a Humanitarian gesture on behalf of the United States, Middle Eastern Countries but, in particular, the Country of Iran. Many of these Ships are running low on food, and everything else necessary for largescale crews to stay on board in a healthy and sanitary manner. I think it would go a long way in showing Goodwill on behalf of all of those who have been fighting so strenuously over the last number of months. If, in any way, this Humanitarian process is interfered with, that interference will, unfortunately, have to be dealt with forcefully. Thank you for your attention to this matter!
DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
These teapot refineries are of negligible importance in n this war. My main worry is that China can wreak the sanctions and the blockade and the ability to bomb Iranian export facilities with one bold move.
What if Iran sells or leases an export terminal to the Chinese? And also lease a navel base to them? China already has such bases in Pakistan and the Horn of Africa so it would align with their expansionist goals.
That would put the Chinese navy in the strait, protecting/escorting its ships and protecting its export facilities. How would the US react and besides sanctions against China there is nothing the US could do.
They can lease all the bases they want in Iran. But they would not dare sail any actual military ships anywhere near the US navy that’s sitting there.
After everything gets resolved in some manner and the US navy moves away then they could potentially use the bases.
China has had plenty of chances to directly intervene in the Iran war and challenge the US. It has not done so. Why do you think that is? Perhaps because, as I have said in the past, China’s military is more of a “for show” operation. They keep the equipment polished and clean for whenever Xi calls for a parade and I am sure, practice their goose stepping regularly, also for the prades.
China could probably handle Taiwan but would get their asses kicked against a real power, like the US. Xi knows this, so he sneaks around in the background, kicking the US in the shins and then running away.
China also has serious economic problems and going to war with the USA would just worsen their current situation..
Russia was a paper tiger country. Tiny Ukraine has them at a stalemate. They have been forced to withdraw from Syria and Iran.
The US is going to stomp on Iran shortly and there is absolutely nothing that Iran, China, Russia or left leaning blogs here in the US can do about it.
“The US is going to stomp on Iran shortly and there is absolutely nothing that Iran, China, Russia or left leaning blogs here in the US can do about it.”
You have been saying this for two months now. Still waiting.
Rather than “stomping on Iran shortly”, Trump says that the US Navy will begin escorting ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.
JoJo has a successful track record of being consistently wrong.
JoJo just says stupid things to get a rise out of people.
A textbook troll.
I don’t have access to Trump’s plans. IMO, he is wasting time, should have been attacking Iran with Israel and putting boots on the ground in Iran long before now.
It’s about time we escort non-combatants out of the area. Doing so will give the Iranian Regime less de facto hostages to exploit. There wiil only be outgoing ships, no incoming ones, which should clear all those dots the news channels show regularly on their maps.
Clearing the area will also be good if Trump decides to resume the attack on Iran, which again, he should do..
The Chinese won’t attack the US navy but why wouldn’t they sail a few frigates into the gulf just because the USN is there? Do you think even Trump would be so stupid as to then make an attack on those frigates? Or even try to interdict Chinese flagged tankers that have a Chinese naval escort or a few Chinese navy members on board?
As for why China hasn’t made any bold moves? Maybe they want this blockade as they already have 6 months of oil stockpiles and every day this oil blockade is going on boosts demand for Chinese EVs, Chinese solar panels, e-bikes etc. The long game might be China controlling the car market and companies like GM will cease to exist
Trump will block any such Chinese action. And Xi is not going to FUFO prior to their upcoming meeting. Not Chinese MO to do anything direct.
“There is no basis in international law for these sanctions. I side with the law. That means I side with China. So be it.”
That’s virtuous of you, Mish. The most awful crimes are those committed by people who have possession of the law.
The courts could never be more than a blunt instrument even if they were in the possession of people of integrity. Nowadays they are in the possession of revolting filth.
We have a tyranical fascist dictator supported by a blindingly stupid sycophant party. I can’t believe they still give him free rein.
When the GOP gets spanked they deserve it and entirely new blood. They are a disgrace to the historical GOP moderates (McCain, Romney, Kassenbaum, and so many more.)
Mccain???Are you out of your mind.??? A useless corrupt evil bastard may he rest in hell.
Team D would do much the same, albeit with less Eagle Flag Freedom talk and more self-serving and hypocritical human rights talk.
Trump now has 30 days before Iran will act on conditions of continuing the blockade, and as such Iran will start bombing within the region after said deadline.
China and Russia have been helping Iran, and as you can see the daggers of US allies are already being struck in the American backside (Trump’s respinse to Germany). And this is one of the reasons Trump is now wedged between a rock and hard place.
The question is will Trump walk away in defeat knowing he isn’t dealing with just Iran but also Russia and China – the latter of which he’s to meet soon for trade talks and secure rare earth mineral deals; or will Trump follow through with trying to dismantle Iran in the hopes of turning Iran into a vasel state?
Trump has no cards, and given Iran is the one in control of this conflict it makes the likelihood that the trip to China Trump will use optically to make the world belive that a great deal with China was made, when there wasn’t, giving the excuse of an off ramp with Iran.
It’s that or what we think is bad now will eventually become horrific as this war will continue and plunge many US allies into a depression, with the US closely following (though not as bad because the US can produce food).
The difference between Vietnam and Iran is Trump knew how to get out of Vietnam.
And you are telling me they didn’t know how to get out of Vietnam?
Every war, in the end is a war of choice, and how long or short the engagement is as well predicated on a choice.
Thus to claim otherwise is a disservice to your, and other’s, intellect.
Lol it’s a joke he’s making, do you really want someone to explain it to you? Read it again and think it through and stop worrying about anyone else’s intellect.
Interesting, for I didn’t see the word “Trump” the first time I read that.
Ty.
ty ! ” my foot hurts” LOL
The list of Coercion, Illegal Threats, Unconstitutional Executive Orders, Treaty Violations in the article should include Complicity in Genocide, as the US under Trump (and Biden) willingly supplied Israel with the funding and weaponry used to commit genocide in Gaza. Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted by the International Court of Justice on 21 November 2024 for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Gaza war, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts. He is currently classified as a fugitive from justice, and can no longer set foot in (or even fly over) Europe without being arrested. Yet he is treated as royalty by the current administration.
The only thing that will be acceptable is complete and total US capitualiation to Iran! 🤣 🤣 🤣
Do you have a fetish for public humiliation? It kind of stops being trolling when everyone is just laughing at you.
Sticks and stones…
I KNOW that there are many lurkers reading my thoughts and benefitting from them, w/o participating in the daily polling. My goal is to be a thought influencer. The ankle biting from the usual suspects here is of no real concern. 😁
“You cannot be a positive influence to the “sinners at the table” if you refuse to dine with them.”
🙄
Are these lurkers in the room with us now?😂
Surely you know that Mish has more readers than the 50 odd names that show up here regularly??? Or do you? Sheese, you are stoopid.
‘Thought influencer” – hahaha, no mate, you just come across as a delusional twat.
The analysis is relatively simple. You comply with sanctions if they would hurt AND if you can still get what you need some other way. When oil is no longer available (Kuwait exported zero barrels of oil in the entire month of April), you are willing to take more risk to keep your society and economy functioning. The Chinese don’t worry too much about compliance with US sanctions, because the tables have turned and the Americans need the Chinese and their goods much more than the Chinese need the Americans. As Trump knows, negotiation is all about leverage.
Trump is a very sick man. I doubt he makes it to November, but his “Après moi, le déluge” foreign policy is going to leave us in a world of shit for a very long time.
Trump is ACTING as if November does not count. IT MIGHT COUNT and he is struggling with back that notion or he does not CARE!
We will see. 6 months to go until the mid-terms
Trump is much simpler than that. If something supports Trump, it is “tremendous” and historically great. If something goes bad for Trump, he ”couldn’t care less”, and the person or country that slighted him is “failing” and “horrible”. It doesn’t matter what the topic is.
6 months is a long time into the future in politics. American political memory is about two months. This is how Trump is thinking.
Trump intends to have had Iran tap out by then and this will a feather in his cap going into the elections.
I agree. It’s a couple months yet before he either offers some realistic moderation (I doubt it); or something completely irrelevant like more trans bathroom BS issues.
And Cuba. He wants that government overthrown by then too so he doesn’t have to deal with potential Democratic control of Congress/Senate.
Complete waste of time but the U.S. has to be seen as doing something . . . Sanctions are what you do when you can’t do anything else . . .
Nothing is going to change . . .
Agree completely but it won’t matter. Dems will spend the first 90+ days impeaching the clown and blocking as much as they can but it will be too little too late.
The summer is coming right up and energy demand will skyrocket and so will prices and more economic damage will be done globally. Won’t surprise me if we’re talking about a global recession or depression this time next year. I’m going to bookmark this and put it on my calendar for May 1, 2027.
All that’s left to do now is position for profit.
Do worry, Trump will find a way to make things even worse.™
It will be more than 90 days. I suspect they will spend the final 2 years of Trumps term constantly investigating and impeaching him or threatening to.
In other words expect ZERO to be done by congress or the senate for 2 years which wastes 2 more years when America really needs actual legislation passed on important topics.
All by design. Thats why voters should stop voting for the uniparty, but in a tragic irony, the uniparty will probably get 98 to 99% of the vote again. Deficit spending, the root of all the problems, has people strung out in apathy and a false sense of security. The problem is interfering with the solution. But people should know better. If we dont elect good leaders, we eventually lose our liberties.
Iran has shown the world that the US has neither the brains nor to back up the bluff.
Tangerine tantrums are meaningless.
Black cat white cat China gives out very good global advice. Xi is looking like the most rational and the most intelligent leader on the globe. Time for the nations of the world to accept the good red (the best capitalists in the history of capitalism), and give up forever on the bad red: the ones with the red hats made cheaply in? Capitalist China! Astoundingly, Artie Laughter is an economic advisor to Trump. The dumbest economist in the entire history of economics. We are not doomed; we’re being strangled by the dumbed.
Xi’s system of authoritarian concentrated power totally reduces ability to adapt and react. You think Trump has toadies working for him? Xi purged anyone who would disagree with him a decade ago. Rationality requires accurate information.
Leaders don’t need to be geniuses if the system forces good decisions. In weaker systems, even smart leaders make bad calls because they’re flying blind.
Of course, good systems aren’t immune to “Stable Geniuses” either, unforch …
The premise of Iran blockade is “hurting” China and perhaps in terms of oil accessibility it is but on the other hand, their green energy products are flying off the shelves.
https://edition.cnn.com/2026/04/26/energy/china-clean-energy-exports-intl-hnk
Turns out the best thing to happen to green energy and China is Trump as their sales explode for autos and green tech.
You’re wrong and you have no idea why. Xi had a lot of Artie Laughters. He had them taken out back and shot for being horrifically wrong and incompetent and corrupt, and not for disagreeing with Xi.
It can be both things.
Wait, what? I thought Trump had blockaded the Strait of Hormuz. How are Chinese tankers getting through the blockade and dropping off the oil to these refiners?
He may have lied.
There are a number of reports wherein the sanctioned shadow fleet did get through without incident. Notably they are Chinese affiliated ships.
He’s just a bully and dare not go toe to toe with someone who has no problem getting into a fight. He’s a coward
Some are supposedly slipping past the Naval blockade through the territorial waters of Pakistan, which is friendly with China.
“Pentagon Plans to Double Pay For Combat Troops Amid Flagging Iran War Morale”
our military is made up of PAID MERCENARIES!
Maybe the troops could spend the money on personal cooling devices and the like. Professor Marandi makes the point that the region is about to be hit by the annual heatwave conditions and that US troops will have a hard time dealing with it-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp8YoSL8Qec
I bet those boats are stinky!
During WW2 the US Navy surgeons “allowed” the US Navy corpsmen to perform circumcisions on infected sailor penises in the heat of the South Pacific. I took my Dad to a reunion of the wartime crews of a US Navy heavy cruiser and an old sailor walked up to me and said, “Your Dad circumcised me.” Dad later said, “It was combat.”
Trump Wants To Add “Peacemaker and Unifier” To His Resume.!
6 Times Bankrupt
5 Times Draft Dodger
Thrice-Married
Adulterous
4,000-Times-Sued
34-Times-Convicted-Felon
Twice Impeached
Warmonger
Untruthful
Epstein Island PDF Club Member
Trump’s Legacy:
“America’s Political Class – Now Notoriously Known As
The ‘Epstein’ Class”
and On Wednesday, Trump said he was confident a “solution” over Ukraine could be reached “relatively quickly” following a “very good” conversation with Vladimir Putin. “I think ‘some people’ (have) made it difficult for him to make a deal,” he added.
It’s not the first time Trump’s made similar positive comments about Putin, while implicitly or explicitly criticising Ukraine’s leader for not signing up to a ceasefire.
A “solution” has yet to materialize.
A great conversation? That’s got to be a first!!!!!!!!!!
Trump had a conversation with a dial tone.
Putin hung up!
Losers demand loser representation.
Insane sh!t like this usually happens at market tops
GameStop CEO Prepares Takeover Bid For eBay
Zombie company with a dead business model feasts upon the living.
AOL buying Time Warner comes to mind.
That was one of the greatest shit shows of all time.
Ebay isnt going to take the deal. Gamestop is a desperate almost bankrupt company, as evidenced by their silly announcement claim to transforming into an AI company, trying to latch onto a legit company like ebay to avoid going under.