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Alexei Maslov, Head of the School of Asian Studies at the Higher School of Economics, said, 'The US is seeking a permanent effective means for pressuring China of which Beijing cannot get rid in short term.'
Referring to the 'trade war' between China and the US, he said, 'Oil is a good weapon for Washington since Beijing is in need of new oil and gas sources for supporting its economic growth.'
It is also important to the US to break the alliance between Iran and China, Maslov said noting that over the past years of extensive sanctions against Iran, Beijing kept buying oil from Tehran.
'The extra volumes of oil bought from Iran were seemingly imported through third countries, but media reported the destination of the oil was China,' he said.
US President Donald Trump unilaterally announced Washington's withdrawal from the international nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with Iran. Following the move, the US imposed sanctions on Iran's oil as its main source of income. Last week Washington in a further move announced that it will not extend the sanctions waivers for the major buyers of the crude for another six months.
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