Chinese authorities condemned the United States for initiating a new round of economic sanctions on Iran, including measures against countries still trading with Iran, describing them as illegal.
On Tuesday, 25 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Chinese officials strongly condemned and opposed the U.S. announcement of a new round of sanctions on Iran called “Operation Economic Outcast,” aimed at attacking Iran's economy and those trading with Tehran. China emphasized it would fully protect its own interests.
Lin Jian, spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that China opposes "unilateral illegal sanctions" and affirmed that cooperation between China and Iran is within international law, which the U.S. has no right to interfere with. China is Iran's largest oil buyer.
Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced an expansion of secondary sanctions on Iran, warning that financial institutions and foreign businesses still dealing with Iran would be isolated. This round targets nearly 60 individuals, networks, and vessels, emphasizing that no one is above U.S. sanctions.
Meanwhile, Iran's Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh revealed that Tehran had prepared counterplans against U.S. sanctions two years in advance and believes these measures will ultimately fail.
The new U.S. sanctions announcement comes ahead of talks between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping scheduled for September, where the U.S. may face retaliation from China, particularly through tightened controls on "rare earth" exports vital to the U.S. high-tech industry.
Experts believe the sanctions may have limited effects on Iran's economy since China typically does not comply with U.S. unilateral sanctions, and Iran's neighbors such as Pakistan, Turkey, and Iraq are unlikely to sever ties with Iran in practice.
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Source:bbc