Amid the ongoing domestic tensions in Iran, the United States has imposed a fresh wave of sanctions on countries doing any business with Iran. This step tightens the grip around the already crumbling Iranian economy, but it is equally significant for countries relying on energy imports from Iran. Although there are many beneficiaries of cheap Iranian oil, China is at the forefront of the list.
China tops the list of those countries importing crude oil from Iran, accounting for 80 percent of Iranian seaborne oil exports. In 2025, China purchased 1.38 million barrels of Iranian oil per day, representing about 13.4 percent of China’s total oil imports. Apart from Iran, China continued to be the largest importer of Russian oil in 2025, which is another country heavily sanctioned by the United States.
There’s a clear benefit to China: buying Iranian oil saves it around $8-10 per barrel.
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