A) Using sanctions to target front companies in Hong Kong forces Beijing to address Iran’s illicit financial networks during the high-level talks.
B) Economic pressure on Chinese-based firms may be viewed by Beijing as an infringement on sovereignty, potentially derailing summit negotiations.
C) Targeting the IRGC’s shadow fleet is a necessary step to dry up the funding used to sustain the ongoing conflict and regional instability.
D) The offer of a $15 million reward for disrupting IRGC finances suggests that traditional sanctions alone are insufficient to stop the flow of Iranian oil.