U.S. considers crackdown on Chinese imports of Iranian oil

The U.S. is considering cracking down on Iranian oil sales to China as it prepares for the possibility that Tehran may either not return to nuclear talks or adopt a tougher stance if they do since the incoming President-elect Ebrahim Raisi raises uncertainties about Iran’s future position regarding the talks. Chinese refiners are the biggest importers of Iranian oil and have averaged between 400,000 and 650,000 barrels per day this year on a monthly basis.