# US-China diplomatic tension over Iran sanctions > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/us-china-diplomatic-tension-over-iran-sanctions > Updated: 2026-08-25T06:49:39.000Z. Sources: 10. Developments: 2. The United States has signaled an intention to target entities facilitating Iranian oil and weapons networks by threatening to revoke their access to the US dollar system. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that “no one is above the reach of US sanctions,” noting that the Treasury has already identified nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels linked to these networks, including 21 based in China. China has formally rejected these threats. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian stated that economic pressure and sanctions are not effective solutions for regional conflicts and warned that such measures could exacerbate tensions and disrupt global financial stability. The diplomatic friction occurs as China consumes approximately 90 percent of Iran’s exported oil. While data indicates a decline in Chinese imports of Iranian crude oil from July to August, much of the remaining trade is reportedly conducted through complex payment networks and independent refineries to bypass the dollar-based system. This tension precedes a scheduled summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping on September 24. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-25: US Treasury threatens sanctions on entities facilitating Iranian oil trades US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that entities facilitating Iranian oil transactions could be barred from the US dollar system, a move that directly impacts Chinese firms and global energy markets. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-treasury-threatens-sanctions-on-entities-facilitating-iranian-oil-trades ### 2026-08-24: China rejects US sanctions threats against Iran trade partners China has rejected US threats of secondary sanctions against those trading with Iran, warning that economic pressure fails to solve regional issues and threatens global financial stability. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-rejects-us-sanctions-threats-regarding-iran-trade --- Cite as: US-China diplomatic tension over Iran sanctions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/us-china-diplomatic-tension-over-iran-sanctions