China defies US sanctions on Iranian oil purchases ahead of Xi summit

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Colloquially known as ‘teapots,’ these independent oil refiners purchase the majority of Iran’s crude oil. According to the department, Hengli is the second-largest teapot refinery in China and “has received Iranian oil cargoes from a host of sanctioned shadow fleet vessels” since at least 2023. The other four refiners are Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shougang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengxing Chemical. The department also issued sanctions against 40 shipping firms and vessels during that late April announcement. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said then that “Economic Fury is imposing a financial stronghold on the Iranian regime, hampering…

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