Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that China could continue to buy oil from Iran, after the U.S. attacked the OPEC members nuclear facilities. He also hoped China would purchase "plenty" from the United States.

"China can continue to buy Oil from Iran." "Hopefully, they'll be buying plenty from the U.S. as well," he wrote in a Truth Social post.

Trump's tweet came shortly after he announced that Iran, Israel and the United States had agreed to a truce following the bombing of three nuclear facilities by the U.S. over the weekend. He has criticised both countries for violating the truce early.

Trump said early in his second tenure, which began in January 2017, that he would reimpose maximum pressure on Iran regarding its nuclear program and financing of militant groups in the Middle East.

He has imposed a wave of sanctions on Iran, including against several Chinese "teapots" and port terminal operators who have purchased Iranian oil.

The Treasury, State Departments, and Congress will be required to take action in order to lift the sanctions against Iranian oil. The Trump administration may decide to lift existing sanctions and increase oil flow to the global market.

China, which is the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil in the world, has been against what it calls Washington's abuse of unilateral illegal sanctions for a long time. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not responded to a comment request about Trump's tweet.

China, and other oil consumers, could be upset by any increased purchases of Iranian crude oil. Saudi Arabia is the largest oil exporter in the world.

The State Department sent a comment request to the White House. It did not immediately respond. Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Daphne Psaledakis; Editing and production by Doina Choy and Marguerita Chôy

(source: Reuters)