It's looking like Trump's war created a private oil lane for China and other countries willing to play ball with Iran - Fortune

Fortune
March 20, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Trump's Iran war may have created commercial advantages for China and other nations in Iran oil markets.

AI Summary

Trump administration policies aimed at countering Iran have inadvertently created economic advantages for China and other nations willing to maintain trade relationships with Tehran, according to analysis in Fortune. The report suggests that while the U.S. has tightened sanctions and taken a more aggressive posture toward Iran, certain countries have filled the vacuum by expanding their own oil and trade dealings with Iranian interests. This dynamic undermines the administration's stated goal of isolating Iran economically and diplomatically. The situation reflects a broader challenge: unilateral pressure by Washington can sometimes incentivize adversaries and competitors to deepen their own strategic partnerships outside U.S. control. China, in particular, stands to benefit from increased energy ties with Iran if Western markets remain largely closed to Tehran.

Source Coverage Map

4 of 43 tracked sources covered this story

Overlooked Story
9% coverage
Did Not Cover (39)
ICIJ97AP World News96AP News96AP US News96AP Top News96+34 more

Following this story?

Get notified when new coverage appears

Other Sources Covering This Story

5 sources

Multiple outlets have reported on this story. Compare perspectives from different sources.

Should this be getting more attention?

You Might Have Missed

Related stories from different sources and perspectives

Iraq taking private plane to Mexico for World Cup play-off
Global

Iraq taking private plane to Mexico for World Cup play-off

Iraq will travel to Mexico by private plane for their World Cup play-off despite calls from coach Graham Arnold to postpone the match amid the escalating US-Israeli war with Iran, the country's FA president Adnan Dirjal says.

BBC NewsMar 14
Asia scrambles to conserve energy as Iran war disrupts oil and gas supplies - AP News
Global

Asia scrambles to conserve energy as Iran war disrupts oil and gas supplies - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxQYkdLNmh2NHhPbnJxaHFOaXpMSnE4NkFDSFNvQ1FtN0NXTHdDM0xRYkZXRGFINmh1SlYtVS15WjhhRjJqemN5TTQ3MDd0d1psVDlCX3FhNE9YUG10bGZRaDB6Q1ZYQW9PX0p3WEgyNU4zM2FXa01RZkJGdjNCam1kY0l4cTMxTURkV2drZmJHei1WV3NMcUQ2bml5TQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Asia scrambles to conserve energy as Iran war disrupts oil and gas supplies</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 19
Netanyahu wants oil, gas to flow through Israel post-Iran war - Reuters
Global

Netanyahu wants oil, gas to flow through Israel post-Iran war - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxPcjM0WU91Qk16Zk5CZjFNTHRQYUJLYm5lMHEtcW8tWTlWcVFDV3RCSko5bHo0S3BRLXJvdHlObGF6UmxnQkNhejJfajIwdEF3bWhGUTYybWx1aExDMV9Xb3VoRk1YaXdGaXk5RlBQUEE1RmN5WEt1QjdBTU5QREtDamhCSXBrNmYxMUVQOENscERVNTZvSUdGQUF3dFd2VVlVRkxOUjdlVUh5U0s4d1VORlNTNC1VQQ?oc=5" target="_blank">Netanyahu wants oil, gas to flow through Israel post-Iran war</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

ReutersMar 19
How Trump's Treasury is shifting sanctions to punish his critics and reward friends - NPR
Politics

How Trump's Treasury is shifting sanctions to punish his critics and reward friends - NPR

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxQa19sUXc0b3A3N3FmcVZydzY4S054RmFfc1V6UHRnQmhBc2ozZUkwUDlUOGlIaG1jQ2wtVXMxakdsQTdEY0ppYWh4U3d6ZGdGQl9QeEY5QlQzWUNEa0JtN3hrSEc2bmhTQ2FPQTg3YXZuaW9PbTI5RlIxR3c1cXlfNXpKRjRjN2hja2xENA?oc=5" target="_blank">How Trump's Treasury is shifting sanctions to punish his critics and reward friends</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">NPR</font>

NPRMar 17
Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat - AP News
National Security

Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat - AP News

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilgFBVV95cUxQY3hKc1k0enEwcnVPOWVCLXZqVUdUSGRMZDk2WkExSTlXZ2hobHdRWmZqUDBkVUhCN1JUOGVDblVzRG4yLU5Jc2xhSHdQWG1GRFpzTTY4V05TWTNNMWI0WlgyS1JLTU42MEI4UnAwa3FSMllYWjRCUU5UYkpETUNsal95enVVRXVDdWU5Z2lPRHI3a0Zwa1E?oc=5" target="_blank">Top counterterrorism official Kent resigns over Trump's Iran war, says Iran posed no imminent threat</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>

AP NewsMar 17
Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past
Politics

Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past

<p>Sen. <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/markwayne-mullin-homeland-security-secretary-nominee" target="_blank">Markwayne Mullin</a> (R-Okla.) has privately hinted to colleagues that he was involved in dangerous private security work in Middle East war zones before running for Congress in 2012, according to three people who have heard him discuss it.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> It's a mystery likely to come up Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing, where he will face colleagues as <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/05/kristi-noem-trump-fired-moved" target="_blank">President Trump's nominee</a> to replace Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary.</p><hr><ul><li>There's no public record of Mullin — a former professional mixed martial arts fighter who sold his family's plumbing business in 2021 — doing the kind of security work he has alluded to in private.</li><li>But to former colleagues in the House, and on several other occasions, Mullin has suggeste...

AxiosMar 18
Read Next
US considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil
Global

US considers lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent broached waiving sanctions on oil already at sea, which would be a stunning reversal of longstanding American policy.

Continue reading

Did this story change how you see things?

Stories like this only matter when people see them. Help us get verified journalism in front of more eyes.

Share this story

Get the daily digest

Save for later

The Verity Ledger curates verified investigative journalism from trusted sources only.

See our sources