Dear Focus Reader,

This week, Washington called on China and other countries to support its campaign to increase economic pressure on Iran, as the United States prepares new sanctions and Iranian oil shipments to China face disruption. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. would impose what he called the "toughest sanctions in history" on Iran and urged Beijing to "get with the program." China's Foreign Ministry said sanctions and pressure tactics are not a solution and called for disputes to be addressed through political and diplomatic means.

Iranian oil shipments to China have also been affected by the U.S. blockade, with fewer cargoes available to Chinese buyers. Offers of Iranian crude have declined, while some Chinese refiners are seeking alternative supplies.

Bessent said he plans to provide more details on the new measures on Monday, while President Donald Trump has warned countries that provide economic support to Iran could face consequences.

Meanwhile, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited South Korea this week for talks with President Lee Jae Myung and Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The meetings focused on bilateral relations and the Korean Peninsula, with Wang calling for stronger China-South Korea ties and saying Beijing would continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability on the peninsula.

During the visit, Wang also urged Seoul to pursue what he called "strategic autonomy," arguing that South Korea should avoid bloc confrontation or choosing sides between Beijing and Washington. On the Korean Peninsula, he encouraged the U.S. to abandon what Beijing describes as its "hostile policy" toward North Korea, while South Korean officials urged China to play a constructive role in bringing Pyongyang back to dialogue. The discussions come as diplomacy surrounding the peninsula may be entering a new phase, with U.S. President Trump signaling plans to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this year and Seoul seeking to create space for renewed engagement with Pyongyang.

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