The United States Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, announced a new set of secondary sanctions on Monday. These sanctions do not target Iran directly, but rather Tehran's trading partners in the aviation, maritime transport, technology, gold, and digital asset sectors.
Furthermore, Washington imposed new restrictions on 60 individuals, companies, and vessels accused of assisting Iran in obtaining oil revenues, acquiring weaponry, and conducting cyber warfare operations.
The sanctions applied by the administration of President Donald Trump affect entities globally, including those located in the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore, and Europe.
In response, the spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jian, stated that China will employ all necessary means to firmly protect its rights and interests. Lin emphasized that extreme pressures imposed during an economic war are not solutions.
According to Lin, such actions only serve to intensify tensions and conflicts, generating contagion effects, destabilizing the world's economic and financial order, and harming the legitimate rights of other nations.
China holds fundamental strategic and economic importance for Iran. Before the start of the war promoted by the United States and Israel on February 28, more than 80% of Iranian oil exports were destined for China, according to data from the analysis company Kpler.
Lin Jian reinforced that cooperation between China and Iran has always occurred within the limits of international law and cannot be compromised or interrupted.
Scott Bessent informed on Monday that countries that choose not to adhere to American sanctions will face the isolation imposed on Iran. The Treasury Secretary even mentioned the possibility of excluding violators from the dollar system.
Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping has a visit scheduled to the United States for September 24, at the invitation of Trump, who had been in Beijing in May.