China said on Monday it would closely monitor developments and take necessary measures to protect its rights as the United States prepares to announce a new package of sanctions against Iran that could target Tehran’s trading partners.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the comments as U.S. officials prepared to unveil new measures aimed at increasing economic pressure on Iran.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was due to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, where he was expected to provide details of the sanctions. Bessent has previously warned that Washington could impose what he described as the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran and urged China to cooperate with the United States.
Beijing has significant economic ties with Tehran and has previously opposed unilateral sanctions imposed by other countries. China has also maintained that disputes should be resolved through dialogue rather than economic pressure.
Lin urged all parties to exercise restraint and act rationally, warning that sanctions and pressure tactics would not help resolve the underlying disputes.
The latest tensions come as Washington seeks to tighten economic restrictions on Iran amid continuing regional instability and concerns over Tehran’s energy exports and trading relationships.
China’s response could add another layer of tension to already strained relations between Beijing and Washington, particularly if the new U.S. measures target Chinese companies or financial institutions involved in trade with Iran.
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