How China and Russia could hobble Trump’s plans to isolate Iran

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US President Donald Trump is threatening new economic pressure on countries that help Iran maintain trade and financial links, framing the move as an “economic D-Day” against Tehran. The article says the effort is aimed at cutting off what Trump calls an economic lifeline, but analysts argue that China and Russia make that goal hard to achieve.

The report says China and Russia remain central to Iran’s ability to keep trading despite US sanctions. China bought most of Iran’s shipped oil in 2025, while Russia has deepened commercial and military cooperation with Tehran through a 20-year partnership deal signed in January 2025. Both countries already operate under extensive sanctions or, in China’s case, have shown willingness to continue sanctioned trade when it suits their interests.

Al Jazeera cites analysts who say Washington would struggle to force a major change in Beijing’s behavior without risking a wider confrontation, especially as the US seeks a temporary easing of tensions with China ahead of planned leader-level meetings. Russia presents a different problem: because it is already heavily sanctioned, additional US pressure may have limited effect. The article also notes that the United Arab Emirates has imposed an indefinite trade embargo on Iran, which could add to Tehran’s economic strain.

The broader significance is that Trump’s strategy depends on coordination that is difficult to secure in a fragmented geopolitical climate. Iran, meanwhile, is looking to alternative channels such as BRICS institutions and non-Western financing to blunt the impact of US restrictions.