Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Condemns New US Sanctions on Iran, Vows to Continue Cooperation With Tehran

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Shahrivar 3, 1405 (August 25, 2026) that Beijing has repeatedly voiced firm opposition to illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or UN Security Council authorization. According to Oilprice.com, it was China's first official, on the record reaction to the sanctions package the US Treasury dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, announced Monday, Shahrivar 2 (August 24), which targets individuals, companies and vessels operating in the UAE, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Switzerland and Europe that Washington says move Iranian oil and channel its revenue to Iranian entities, though the package stopped short of sanctioning major Chinese banks.

Lin said economic warfare and maximum pressure provide no solution, and that such measures only fuel tensions, create risk spillover into the global economic and financial order, and harm the legitimate rights and interests of other countries. He repeated several times that China will do everything necessary to firmly safeguard its rights and interests, and, asked whether Beijing would change its conduct toward Iran to meet US demands, said China's cooperation with Iran operates within the framework of international law and should not be disrupted.