China pledged on Tuesday to take all necessary measures to defend its economic interests after Washington announced a sweeping new campaign aimed at the “economic asphyxiation” of Iran.
The U.S. initiative includes fresh penalties on multiple international entities, including firms based in China and expanded secondary sanction threats designed to sever Tehran’s global financial lifelines.
Speaking at a regular afternoon press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian strongly condemned the expanded American penalties, reiterating China’s longstanding opposition to unilateral economic actions.
“Cooperation between China and Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted,” Lin told reporters. “China has already stated many times that it firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions. China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests.”
Lin warned that Washington’s aggressive economic strategy would destabilize global trade. “Economic wars and maximum pressure are not the solution,” Lin added. “They will only lead to escalation and risks of spillover, which will disrupt the global economic and financial order and harm the legitimate interests of other countries.”
The Chinese reaction follows remarks made on Monday in Washington, D.C., where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled “Operation Economic Outcast”. The aggressive campaign targets foreign banks, energy brokers, and trade networks doing business with Tehran.
When asked on Monday if Chinese financial institutions might face secondary sanctions under the new guidelines, Bessent stated plainly that “no one is above the reach of U.S. sanctions.”
Beijing remains a major purchaser of Iranian crude oil and a pivotal economic partner for Tehran. Chinese officials reaffirmed on Tuesday that trade between the two nations would continue despite the threat of U.S. enforcement actions, urging Washington to abandon its maximum-pressure policy in favor of diplomatic dialogue.
