China has warned the United States against disrupting its economic cooperation with Iran, saying Beijing will take necessary steps to protect its legitimate rights and interests after Washington expanded sanctions targeting Tehran and entities linked to its trade.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Tuesday that China was closely monitoring developments and opposed unilateral economic pressure. Beijing maintained that its cooperation with Iran was conducted within the framework of international law and should not be disrupted by third-party actions.
The warning came after the United States announced a broad expansion of sanctions against Iran on Monday. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the new measures target nearly 60 individuals, entities and vessels associated with Iran, including networks connected to its petroleum and petrochemical sectors. Washington has described the campaign as an effort to cut off Iran's economic lifelines.
The latest US measures also carry wider implications because Washington has threatened secondary sanctions against countries and businesses that continue significant economic dealings with Tehran. China is particularly important in this context because it remains Iran's largest oil customer.
Beijing has repeatedly opposed US sanctions imposed on Chinese companies involved in trade with Iran. Chinese officials have argued that unilateral sanctions undermine international trade and do not provide a solution to regional disputes. China has previously pledged to defend the lawful interests of its companies against such measures.
The dispute adds another layer of tension to already strained US-China relations. Washington is seeking to place greater economic pressure on Tehran, while Beijing has significant energy and commercial interests linked to Iran. Any further restrictions on Chinese firms or financial institutions could therefore create additional friction between the world's two largest economies.
Iran has also reacted strongly to the expanded sanctions, warning that it could retaliate against measures that threaten its national interests. The confrontation comes amid continuing instability in the region and concerns over oil shipments through the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.
For global energy markets, the standoff carries significant implications. China is a major destination for Iranian crude, while restrictions on Iranian oil exports have already affected shipping flows and increased uncertainty in international energy markets. Analysts are closely watching whether Washington's latest measures lead to further reductions in Iranian oil exports or provoke additional disruption in the region.
China's latest statement signals that Beijing is unlikely to accept unrestricted US pressure on its commercial ties with Tehran. At the same time, the wording leaves room for diplomatic manoeuvring as China weighs its economic interests against the risk of a wider confrontation with Washington.
The developments underline the growing international consequences of the US-Iran confrontation, with sanctions now extending beyond Tehran and increasingly affecting major trading partners such as China.
