Overview
- Chinese Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Lin Jian issued the warning at a Beijing press conference on Monday, saying China would take “necessary measures” to protect its legitimate rights if the Trump administration penalizes countries that keep economic ties with Iran.
- Beijing argued that sanctions and pressure only raise tensions and urged that disputes over Iran trade be resolved through dialogue rather than coercion.
- The statement spotlighted China’s oil transactions with Iran and said those energy links could expose Chinese firms or transactions to U.S. extraterritorial sanctions.
- The remark, carried by Kyodo News and republished by multiple Japanese regional outlets, sharpens a diplomatic standoff over U.S. use of secondary sanctions to punish third‑party trade.
- If Washington expands penalties, the most direct effects would likely fall on companies and banks that handle Iran energy deals, risking disruptions to contracts, finance and supply chains and prompting Beijing to consider legal, economic or policy countermeasures.