China Urges US-Iran Dialogue, Opposes Sanctions Against Tehran
China’s Lin Jian said sanctions and pressure will not help resolve tensions or address the underlying US-Iran issue.
- China said US sanctions and pressure would not resolve the regional conflict.
- Beijing opposes unilateral sanctions without international legal or UN approval.
- The US is preparing what it calls the toughest sanctions imposed on Iran.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will provide further details on August 24.
- Washington wants Iran to end its nuclear programme and reopen Hormuz.
- Iran has rejected the sanctions as unjust economic pressure.
- Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf urged preparation for new sanctions.
- China’s trade relationship with Iran could limit efforts to isolate Tehran.
- The Strait of Hormuz remains vital to global oil supplies.
- Further sanctions could affect energy prices, trade, banking, and ordinary households.
- China says a diplomatic settlement is the only sustainable path forward. China Rejects US Pressure Strategy on Iran
Beijing: China has criticised the United States’ plan to impose sweeping sanctions on Iran, saying that economic pressure and punitive measures will not resolve the conflict in the region.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks on Friday, August 21, after Washington called on governments to join efforts to isolate Iran economically. He said sanctions and pressure would only increase tensions and urged all parties to pursue a political and diplomatic solution.
He called on the countries involved to take responsible steps and settle their differences through dialogue and negotiations.
China’s response places Beijing at odds with the Trump administration, which is preparing what US officials describe as an unprecedented campaign of financial and economic pressure against Tehran. The move comes as the conflict approaches the six-month mark and as the United States faces concerns about weapons stockpiles and the continuing disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington’s economic campaign
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would impose severe new measures intended to force Iran to end its nuclear programme and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the proposed package as “the toughest sanctions ever imposed on Iran”. He said more details would be released on Monday, August 24.
Bessent presented the strategy as an alternative to a further major military operation. He described it as a “one-two punch” involving the US blockade of Iran and a new sanctions campaign designed to place maximum pressure on Tehran.
The proposed measures could affect Iran’s oil exports, banking system, shipping networks, and international trade. Washington is also expected to consider penalties against companies and countries that continue to do business with Iran.
For the United States, the objective is to limit Iran’s ability to finance its military and sustain the conflict. Officials hope that economic hardship will persuade Tehran to accept American demands. Iran, however, has repeatedly shown that it can adapt to sanctions through alternative trade routes, informal financial networks, and cooperation with countries that oppose US policy.
China opposes unilateral sanctions
Lin said China opposed unilateral sanctions that lacked a basis in international law or authorisation from the United Nations Security Council. Beijing has traditionally criticised the use of sanctions as a foreign-policy tool when they are imposed by one country without broad international approval.
China also reiterated its call for direct engagement between Washington and Tehran. It has warned that military action, sanctions, and pressure tactics can deepen hostility rather than create conditions for compromise.
China’s position is significant because it is one of Iran’s major trading partners and an important buyer of Iranian energy. Beijing’s continued economic engagement could limit the effectiveness of US efforts to isolate Tehran, although Chinese companies may still weigh the risks of secondary sanctions.
Iran prepares for further pressure
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the country must prepare to overcome what he called “unjust sanctions”.
Ghalibaf’s comments reflected Tehran’s broader message that Iran will not surrender its independence or accept demands imposed through threats. Iranian officials have condemned the sanctions as economic warfare and said they will not weaken the country’s resolve.
For ordinary Iranians, however, another round of sanctions could bring difficult consequences. Restrictions on banking, trade, medicines, food imports, employment, and currency access can affect households even when governments remain politically defiant. Inflation and shortages often place the greatest burden on low-income families.
Strait of Hormuz remains central
The dispute over the Strait of Hormuz remains at the heart of the crisis. The narrow waterway carries a major share of global oil shipments and is essential to the economies of Gulf producers.
Iran has said the Strait will remain closed until it reaches an agreement with the United States. Washington insists that the passage is open and has used naval power to support shipping. The conflicting claims have made energy markets nervous and increased the risk of miscalculation at sea.
China’s call for dialogue reflects concern that the conflict could spread further and disrupt global trade. Whether diplomacy can return will depend on the willingness of both Washington and Tehran to step back from maximal demands.