China said U.S. “sanctions and pressure” would not resolve the Middle East conflict, after Washington urged governments including Beijing to join efforts to isolate the Iranian economy.
Beijing’s reactions come after U.S. President Donald Trump announced an “economic D-day” for Iran and threatened that any countries that provide “any type of lifeline” to Tehran will face “tremendous economic consequences.”
In response, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that “sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue.”
“China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means,” he said.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump’s push for economic pressure on Tehran, calling on Beijing “to get with the program.” But Lin labelled the U.S. measures as “illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.”
The exchange highlights a point of friction between Washington’s efforts to economically isolate Iran and Beijing’s opposition to U.S. unilateral sanctions. Beijing’s response is strategically important because China’s economic weight could determine how effectively Washington can restrict Iran’s access to international trade and finance. Lin’s statements indicate that Beijing will likely continue significant economic dealings with Tehran despite threatened U.S. penalties. But the issue may lead to a broader economic dispute between the two competing powers.
