US General Kurilla: China supports and finances Iran's malicious behavior

(Patria) - Top US general for the Middle East, Erik Kurilla, said that China provides financial support to Iran, contributing to what he described as Tehran's "malicious behavior" throughout the region.

"The challenge we have with Iran... 85 to 90 percent of their oil is bought by China. So, China effectively supports and finances Iran's malicious behavior," said the Commander of the US Central Command, General Erik Kurilla, Al Arabiya reported.

Kurilla pointed to the huge amounts of funds that still go to Iran's Revolutionary Guard-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), which leads proxy networks outside Iran.

Kurilla highlighted new sanctions under the Trump administration, which are aimed at
so-called "teapot refineries".

"These are refineries along the Chinese coast where these ships take this approved oil... this is ten percent of China's total oil," he said at a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee.

Kurilla warned that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites would endanger US troops in the Middle East. He said that Iranian ballistic missiles and drones would be a major threat to US troops and interests.

However, he revealed that he provided the Trump administration with a "wide range of options" if diplomatic efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran fail.