China Vows to Protect Interests as US Expands Iran Sanctions

At a regular press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected Washington's pressure campaign and urged an end to unilateral measures.

"Cooperation between China and Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be subject to interference or disruption," Lin said. "China has repeatedly stated its strong opposition to illegal unilateral sanctions... China will take all necessary measures to resolutely protect its legitimate rights and interests."

The statement came nearly six months after the US and Israel launched a campaign against Iran, with Washington imposing new sanctions on a range of entities, including some organizations in China. The US has also expanded secondary sanction threats, urging governments worldwide to join its economic campaign.

When asked on Monday whether Chinese banks would be targeted in the new sanctions, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent replied: "No one is beyond the reach of US sanctions."

China has supported a ceasefire, emphasizing that US sanctions will not resolve the conflict. Beijing is currently a major buyer of Iranian oil and is directly affected by congestion in the Strait of Hormuz.

'We Will See More Resistance from China'

Amid the US's latest move, some analysts suggest that threats to sanction Chinese entities for trading with Iran are unlikely to materialize. According to Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, this stems from a combination of diplomatic and legal barriers.

"If the US attacks China just weeks before President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Washington, I find that unlikely," Parsi told Al Jazeera. Diplomatically, he noted that Beijing helped avoid a severe economic crisis at the peak of the war by halting oil purchases as prices spiked, reducing demand and keeping oil prices below $100 per barrel for an extended period.

"They did this because China's goal is to ensure this crisis does not trigger a global recession, which would harm China," Parsi said, suggesting the move indirectly saved Washington from an energy shock that could have damaged the US economy.

Additionally, Beijing is unlikely to accept US attacks on its companies or economic interests without a response. "I suspect we will see more resistance from China if the US actually targets Chinese companies," Parsi said.

In a related development, Majidreza Hariri, head of the Iran-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also criticized US policy, warning that Washington has entered an economic war with Tehran.