China Opposes US Sanctions Threat Against Iranian Airlines
BEIJING, CHINA — WEB DESK: China on Tuesday opposed threatened US sanctions targeting Iranian airlines, describing unilateral measures without a basis in international law or authorisation from the United Nations Security Council as illegal.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun outlined Beijing’s position at a regular news briefing after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that Washington would intensify economic pressure on Iranian carriers and companies around the world that continue providing them with essential aviation services.
“China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law or authorisation from the UN Security Council,” Guo said, according to AFP reporting.
Bessent had said Iranian airlines could effectively be shut out of international operations from September 23 as Washington expands pressure on Tehran. The US warning extends beyond the airlines themselves to foreign businesses providing services necessary for their operations.
According to the US position outlined by Bessent, companies providing Iranian aircraft with fuel, landing services or ticketing facilities could face secondary sanctions, including exclusion from the US dollar-based financial system.
The measures are designed to make it substantially more difficult for Iranian carriers to maintain international operations. However, statements that all Iranian airlines will be “shut down” globally should be treated as a US prediction or threat about the expected effect of sanctions, rather than confirmation that every Iranian airline has already ceased operations.
Washington imposed sanctions earlier this month on remaining Iranian airlines that had not already been subject to US restrictions and targeted companies accused of supporting Iran’s aviation sector, including entities based outside the country.
Beijing’s opposition is consistent with its broader position on Washington’s sanctions policy towards Tehran. China has repeatedly rejected US secondary sanctions on countries and companies conducting business with Iran, arguing that such measures lack international legal authority when they are not backed by the UN Security Council.
The dispute comes at a sensitive moment in US-China relations, shortly before US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to hold high-level talks. Iran is among the geopolitical issues dividing Washington and Beijing alongside trade, artificial intelligence and Taiwan.
China remains an important economic and diplomatic partner for Tehran, while Washington has been seeking to increase financial pressure on Iran amid the continuing Middle East conflict.
When asked whether China would permit Iranian airline flights arriving in Guangzhou and Shanghai on September 23, Guo did not provide a specific answer, according to current reporting.
The practical impact of Washington’s latest measures will therefore depend partly on how airports, fuel suppliers, ground-handling companies, financial institutions and other aviation service providers outside Iran respond to the threat of US secondary sanctions.
