China has said it will not recognise or comply with sanctions imposed by the on several Chinese firms accused of purchasing Iranian oil.
In a statement released on Saturday, China’s commerce ministry criticised the measures, insisting they violate international law and disrupt legitimate trade activities. Beijing maintains that its companies have the right to conduct normal business with other countries, including .
China remains one of Iran’s major oil buyers, with much of the trade handled by smaller independent refineries often referred to as “teapot” refiners, which depend on discounted crude supplies.
The US government has intensified efforts to curb Tehran’s oil revenues by targeting such refineries with sanctions. However, China’s commerce ministry has directed that the restrictions—introduced in phases since last year—should neither be enforced nor acknowledged within the country.
According to the ministry, the sanctions “improperly restrict Chinese enterprises from engaging in normal economic and trade cooperation with third parties” and go against accepted norms of international relations. It reiterated China’s long-standing opposition to unilateral sanctions that lack approval from the United Nations.
The directive applies to several companies, including Shandong-based firms and others operating in different parts of China. Meanwhile, Washington recently announced fresh sanctions against another Chinese company it accused of importing large volumes of Iranian crude, generating significant revenue for Tehran.
The latest developments come amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with no clear resolution following the escalation triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year.
Despite the dispute, diplomatic engagement may continue, as US President is expected to visit China later this month for talks with Chinese leader .
