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China rejects Iran sanctions
China rejected Donald Trump’s threatened campaign of economic pressure against Iran, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian telling reporters on Friday that "sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue".
“sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue”
Lin said "China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means," as the United States vowed it would "collapse" the Iranian regime.
The dispute followed US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s defense of economic pressure on Tehran, and his statement to CNBC that "many conversations are best to have in private" when asked whether Washington would pressure China to join the campaign.
China also reiterated its opposition to unilateral measures, saying it "opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council."
US urges China to join
The BBC reported that the United States urged its allies and China to join a campaign to pressure Iran economically, linking the push to a stated desire "to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened and energy prices fall again."
Treasury Secretary Scott Bennett warned on X that "any country that maintains ties with Tehran will push its economy over the brink," whether the link was described as voluntary or willful disregard.
In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular briefing on Friday that "sanctions and pressure will not contribute to solving the problem," adding that China calls on parties to resolve the issue through political and diplomatic means.
The BBC also said the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the new U.S. measures as "economic terrorism" and crimes against humanity, and stated they would not weaken Tehran’s resolve to defend its independence, sovereignty, and national interests.
Stakes: oil flows and banks
Al Jazeera framed China as the hardest test for Washington’s sanctions, noting that "China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil" and that Capline data showed over 80% of Iran’s oil shipped by sea went to China.
“China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil”
The outlet said China bought an average of 1.38 million barrels per day in 2025, and that the U.S. Treasury estimates China buys about 90% of Iran’s total oil exports.
Al Jazeera also described how Washington’s approach could shift from tankers and front companies to banks and states, quoting international law expert Shantanu Singh to Al Jazeera that the U.S. president can "impose unilateral sanctions that block the use of American financial institutions in international trade with Iran."
The same report said Reuters reported the Treasury warned two large Chinese banks of possible secondary sanctions if Iranian funds were found moving through their systems, while stopping short of listing them on sanctions lists.