U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that China can continue to purchase Iranian oil after Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, a move that the White House clarified did not indicate a relaxation of U.

China's position as the primary buyer of Iranian oil has been crucial for Tehran's economy, which has been severely affected by international sanctions. The United States had last month imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian oil sales to Beijing,

In a sudden twist in Washington's Iran policy, US President Donald Trump made an unexpected announcement shortly after declaring a ceasefire between Iran and Israel after nearly two weeks of air strikes and missile attacks.