China confirms it does not recognize and will not comply with US sanctions targeting five companies that operate small oil refineries, which the US accuses of purchasing large quantities of oil from Iran.
On 2 May 2026, China's Ministry of Commerce announced that China will not comply with US sanctions aimed at five companies' small oil refineries, accusing them of buying oil from Iran, and stated these sanctions violate international law.
China is a major buyer of Iranian oil, mostly through small independent refineries, known as “teapot refineries,” which rely on inexpensive crude oil from the Islamic Republic.
The United States, seeking to cut off Tehran’s revenue, has intensified sanctions on China’s small refineries after imposing similar measures last year.
China’s Ministry of Commerce stated that the US sanctions “will not be recognized, implemented, or complied with.”
The sanctions “improperly prohibit or restrict Chinese enterprises from conducting normal economic, trade, and related activities with third countries... and violate international law and fundamental norms governing international relations.”
“The Chinese government firmly opposes unilateral sanctions lacking United Nations approval and without basis in international law,” it added.
The US sanctions cover three companies in Shandong Province and two others in other regions of China.
Last Friday, the Washington government announced additional sanctions on a Chinese company, Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal, accusing it of importing “tens of millions of barrels” of Iranian crude oil, generating billions of US dollars in revenue for Tehran.
These latest sanctions come amid a diplomatic stalemate between the US and Iran, with no signs of resolution to the Middle East conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on 28 February.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China later this month to hold talks with President Xi Jinping.
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Source:cna