China vows to defend interests against U.S. sanctions on Iran

China has vowed to defend its interests following the United States' announcement of plans to impose economic sanctions against entities trading with Iran. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that cooperation between China and Iran occurs within the framework of international law and should not be subject to interference. Beijing has expressed firm opposition to unilateral sanctions, arguing they lack a basis in international law and fail to resolve regional conflicts, instead exacerbating global economic and financial risks.

The U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, announced new economic measures against Iran and threatened secondary sanctions against countries and entities that refuse to join the campaign to economically pressure the Islamic Republic. While specific nations were not named, China is a major purchaser of Iranian oil. Bessent noted that “nobody is above the reach of U.S. sanctions.”

In response to the escalating tensions, China has reiterated its commitment to promoting peace and dialogue in the Middle East through diplomatic solutions and the principles of peaceful coexistence and respect for national sovereignty. Iran has stated it will not allow Washington to dictate the terms of the conflict and has warned it will consider countries joining the U.S. economic campaign as “enemies.”