Donald Trump has indicated he is prepared to impose sweeping sanctions on Chinese banks facilitating commerce with Iran, directly challenging Beijing’s critical energy supply lines.

When asked about targeting China's financial sector, Trump bluntly countered, “Who said I’m not?” China currently stands as Tehran’s primary economic lifeline, purchasing the vast majority of Iranian crude oil despite existing American restrictions.

Experts warn that penalizing major Chinese lenders could dramatically escalate trade tensions between Washington and Beijing while unsettling global oil markets.