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The warning came as Beijing stepped up its opposition to Washington’s expanding sanctions campaign against Iran.
US President Donald Trump (L) and China’s President Xi Jinping during a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. (File pic/AFP)
China on Tuesday warned the United States that it could take retaliatory measures against Washington’s new sanctions targeting Iran and entities involved in trade with Tehran, vowing to take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests.
The warning came as Beijing stepped up its opposition to Washington’s expanding sanctions campaign against Iran. The Financial Times reported that China could retaliate if the US widens its crackdown on businesses dealing with Tehran.
“China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its rights and interests,” a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also criticised what Beijing described as “illicit unilateral sanctions”, saying such measures had no basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council.
China Pushes Back Against US Sanctions
Washington’s latest sanctions package targets around 60 individuals, companies and vessels, including entities in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, major Chinese banks suspected of facilitating Iranian oil trade were not included.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has not ruled out further action against Chinese financial institutions, saying no one was beyond the “reach of US sanctions”.
The US Treasury said the expanded measures would target Iran’s digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping sectors as part of Washington’s broader campaign to cut Tehran’s financial lifelines.
On Monday, Bessent described the effort as “economic asphyxiation” of Iran and warned countries that did not support the campaign that they would “share in the isolation” of Tehran.
China-Iran Oil Ties Raise Stakes
China is Iran’s biggest oil customer, purchasing a large majority of the country’s crude exports, much of it through smaller independent refineries known as “teapots”.
Beijing has repeatedly opposed US secondary sanctions, while Chinese companies remain exposed to potential penalties for dealing with Iran.
A broader US crackdown could further strain already fragile US-China ties, with President Donald Trump expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington in the coming weeks.
China also has legal mechanisms allowing it to retaliate against foreign sanctions affecting Chinese companies. Its dominance in critical minerals could provide Beijing with additional leverage in any escalation.
Meanwhile, Iranian Economy Minister Ali Madanizadeh had dismissed the latest US measures, saying Tehran had been preparing for such sanctions and predicting “another defeat” for Washington.
(With inputs from agencies)
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August 26, 2026, 04:44 IST
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