On September 3, Vance stated that Beijing appears ready to cooperate with US efforts to pressure Tehran economically, calling China 'much more responsible' than Iran for avoiding attacks on commercial shipping.
He noted this aligns with work from nations like Turkey, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia to limit Iran's resources without active conflict. While the remarks spread widely, many expressed skepticism given China's role as Iran's top oil buyer and its BRICS ties, questioning if real change will follow.