U.S. President Donald Trump hinted Thursday that his administration may be preparing sanctions targeting Chinese banks over their links to Iran, in what would be a major escalation of Washington's attempts to isolate Tehran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent this week announced that the United States was stepping up its campaign to "collapse" the Iranian government through economic sanctions and other measures.
This includes a vastly expanded threat of secondary sanctions on countries that continue to do business with Iran.
China is Tehran's biggest trading partner, particularly when it comes to oil. Chinese banks continue to handle payments related to those and other forms of trade between the countries.
Asked by reporters at an event in the Oval Office whether he would sanction Chinese banks over such transactions, Trump responded with his own question.
