US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently announced that China has "substantially reduced" its assistance to Iran. In an interview with Fox News, Bessent indicated that the flow of Iranian oil to China is expected to cease within the next two weeks. This development is being framed by the US administration as a sign that Iran is feeling the impact of international pressure.

According to Bessent, this shift in the geopolitical landscape has prompted Iranian officials to propose a peace deal to the United States. The Treasury Secretary explicitly linked the reduction in Chinese support to Iran's current willingness to engage in diplomatic negotiations, suggesting that the Iranian government is feeling the weight of these economic constraints. While the US government is presenting this as a successful outcome of its current policy, the report from Middle East Eye notes that the information originates solely from US officials. There has been no immediate confirmation or public comment from Chinese or Iranian authorities regarding the specific claims about oil delivery timelines or the status of a proposed peace deal.