Iran relies heavily on China for its oil exports, with over 92% of its crude going to the country, often at steep discounts of around 30%.

Axar.az reports that a senior Iranian trade official, Hojatollah Mirzaei, criticized this dependence, calling it a "colonial trap" imposed by U.S. sanctions.

He highlighted that the logistical costs of evading sanctions significantly inflate Iran’s economic burdens, consuming more than half the value of each barrel. Additionally, China dictates transaction terms, sometimes tying payments to purchases of Chinese products like electric buses.

This reliance reflects the strain sanctions have placed on Tehran, forcing it into costly covert operations using "ghost fleets" to transport oil.