The Iranian embassy in Beijing on May 20, 2024. Greg Baker/AFP
The Chinese Communist Party has signaled that it will not stop working with the Iranian regime, after Chinese and Hong Kong entities were hit by U.S. sanctions for aiding Tehran’s economy.
“China’s cooperation with Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interrupted and disrupted,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular briefing on Aug. 25 when asked about Beijing’s willingness to change its practices following the U.S. request.
The U.S. government on Aug. 24 announced fresh sanctions targeting nearly 60 entities, individuals, and vessels that the U.S. Treasury stated “enable the Iranian regime’s recklessness.”
The actions are part of a broader campaign from the Trump administration to further cut Tehran off from the global economy, which has brought renewed attention to Tehran’s largest remaining trading partner, China.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said every country would be given a timeline to cease the identified activities related to Iran or face financial penalties from his department. He noted that officials from the U.S. Treasury, State, and War departments are engaging with their counterparts worldwide and that the U.S. expectation is “immediate action.”
While the U.S. Treasury chief did not outline specific timelines at the Aug. 24 press conference, he said that Washington does not have “infinite patience” and urged China and other countries to refrain from testing the administration’s resolve.
At the Aug. 25 briefing in Beijing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson would not say whether they had received such a deadline from the United States, saying only that China is closely monitoring the relevant developments.
Lin called the sanctions “illegal” and reiterated that China would take all necessary measures to protect its interests.
China is Iran’s largest oil customer. U.S. officials have said that China takes in more than 90 percent of Tehran’s crude exports, providing a vital economic lifeline to the Iranian regime despite years of U.S. sanctions.
The sanctions package unveiled by the U.S. Treasury on Aug. 24 includes five “shadow fleet” vessels linked to transporting Iranian oil to third countries, particularly China. One oil tanker, owned by Riqueza Group in Hong Kong but flying the Vanuatu flag, has delivered millions of barrels of Iranian crude to China this year, according to the U.S. Treasury.
The U.S. government also targeted a network found to be helping the Iranian regime acquire critical technology for nuclear research and missile development.
At the center of the network is Sweet Ocean Industrial, a Hong Kong-based company alleged to act as an intermediary in purchasing laser optics equipment and other sensitive items for Iran’s Malek Ashtar University, a U.N.-sanctioned entity.
Three China-based individuals—Li Na, Tian Jianbai, and Zhang Limei—were designated for allegedly facilitating that procurement network.
The U.S. Treasury stated that the network has enabled Tehran to obtain highly sensitive technology that has both civilian and military applications through “a sprawling system of front companies, covert financial channels, and logistics intermediaries across East Asia.”
The Iran-related measures took place less than a month before a visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping. U.S. President Donald Trump has said on several occasions that he expected to meet with Xi at the White House on Sept. 24.
Emel Akan and Andrew Moran contributed to this report.
