China Declares New U.S. Sanctions on Iran ‘Unlawful’, Promises Retaliation
China has openly challenged the United States’ decision to expand financial restrictions on Iran and its business allies, calling the new measures a unilateral violation of international law. The foreign ministry’s spokesman Lin Jian said Beijing would take every necessary step to safeguard its national interests.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the sanctions early Monday, warning that any nation or institution that continues business ties with Iran will face isolation. He described the action as “the single greatest financial offensive ever” against the Iranian regime.
China stands as the world’s largest importer of Iranian crude, a relationship that has not been fully disrupted by the U.S. blockade. Lin noted that the cooperation between Beijing and Tehran has always operated within the framework of law and must not be interfered with.
Bessent tightened sanctions from big banks to private entities, effectively tightening the “noose” around Iranian coverage of revenue streams. The Treasury mapped channels used by the regime to bypass existing controls and imposed restrictions on nearly 60 entities and vessels.
Officials in China have already tightened export controls on rare earth minerals, a crucial component for global high‑tech industry, in response to prior trade disputes with the United States.
Iranian officials claim the regime is prepared to withstand the broader economic punishment, touting a two‑year contingency plan. The nation also highlighted its own financial mechanisms to counteract foreign pressures.
Analysts predict that limited immediate impact may occur, especially given that roughly ninety percent of Iran’s oil exports go to China, which historically rejects unilateral U.S. sanctions.
President Trump’s future conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month could see a clash over how best to address Iran’s influence. Washington is wary of retaliation, especially considering China’s control over rare earth materials.
Potential reaction from other trading partners, such as India and Russia, remains uncertain at this stage.
Learn more: Iran says it is ‘fully prepared’ to counter widened US economic sanctions
