Iran’s economy faces more problems.

The Trump administration is asking other countries to stop all business with Iran.

Last week, the United Arab Emirates stopped trade with Iran.

This is the start of a new U.S. effort to isolate Iran.

Iran already traded with only a few partners.

So it has fewer choices now.

The success of the U.S. plan depends mostly on China.

China is Iran’s biggest oil buyer and trading partner.

Russia also has big sanctions and its own money problems.

So Russia can give little help.

Regional partners like Turkey, Pakistan, and Iraq have ties to both Iran and the U.S.

So they may not follow the new U.S. rules.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the plan “Operation Economic Outcast.”

He said countries that support the U.S. will get benefits.

Countries that stay with Iran will share its isolation.

In 2024, Iran traded $125 billion worth of goods.

But most trade was with a few partners.

The UAE, China, and Turkey gave nearly three-quarters of Iran’s imports.

The UAE was very important.

It was a center for re-export and a way for international payments.

Experts say Iran can replace the UAE.

But it cannot do this quickly.

China has business interests beyond Iran.

It has avoided direct conflict.

China buys most of Iran’s oil through unclear networks.

These networks avoid sanctions.

Analysts doubt China will fully follow U.S. pressure.

But China has reduced Iranian oil imports before.

Other partners have their own limits.

Turkey settled a U.S. dispute about sanctions evasion.

Iraq depends on U.S. control of its money reserves.

Pakistan balances ties with both Tehran and Washington.

One expert said the U.S. dollar is so strong that no partner would anger Washington easily.