FT analysis of sanctions' effects on Iran included this cool graphic, which I scan.
Clear realities:
1) Asia is replacing Europe as primary trade partners;
2) China is clear #1 at almost 16%, a rough doubling since 2003 (almost a quarter of all Iranian trade is concentrated in China and Japan, and if you add India and Korea you're at about 40%);
3) by comparison, the US is a non-entity at less than 1/2 of one percent, hence all our efforts at sanctions are about getting other people to deny Iran trade, with only our European friends and Japan going in that direction and the rising East completely picking up that slack.
It's like a giant teeter-totter with Asia pushing down and Europe being lifted and Turkey serving as the steady fulcrum.
I think you could say that about a lot of things today.