China says will safeguard its own interests as US expands Iran sanctions

What the report says

China said it will protect its interests after the United States expanded sanctions tied to Iran, according to Al Jazeera. In a briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian rejected the wider US pressure campaign and called for an end to what he described as unilateral measures. He said cooperation between China and Iran is lawful and should not be disrupted, and added that China would take steps to defend its rights and interests.

The comments came as Washington introduced new penalties on entities that include some based in China and widened the threat of secondary sanctions against governments and companies doing business with Iran. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that no one is exempt from US sanctions. Al Jazeera noted that the latest move comes nearly six months into the US-Israel war on Iran.

Al Jazeera reported that China has continued to call for a ceasefire and argues that sanctions will not end the conflict. The article also said China remains an important buyer of Iranian oil and could be affected by tensions around the Strait of Hormuz. In broader context, Beijing and Washington have often clashed over sanctions policy, trade, and the scope of US financial pressure on third countries.