China expressed its continued support for a diplomatic resolution to the US-Iran conflict, with Vice Foreign Minister Miao Deyu engaging in talks with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in Beijing on August 17. This statement, released on Sunday, precedes new US sanctions targeting Tehran's economic partners. China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian also stated that "sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issue," urging all parties to seek solutions through diplomatic and political means.
Lin Jian's comments were a direct response to a social media post from US President Donald Trump detailing plans for an "economic isolation operation" against Iran and its trading partners. While Trump did not explicitly name China, Beijing, which accounted for over 90% of Iran's oil exports, is a significant target. China was Iran's second-largest trading partner in 2025, after the United Arab Emirates, which recently cut economic ties with Tehran.
Despite US pressure, China has historically disregarded unilateral sanctions, though its state-owned entities often comply with US sanctions to maintain access to the dollar-clearing system. In May, China instructed domestic companies not to comply with US sanctions on five refiners, creating a dilemma for its major banks. The US has already sanctioned some Chinese teapot refineries and firms since the conflict began in February, but has not yet targeted major Chinese banks.
Experts believe sanctioning China presents a complex challenge for the US. William Figueroa, an assistant professor at the University of Groningen, noted that if the US merely re-imposes previous sanction regimes, Chinese refineries are adept at evasion, especially given Beijing's directive not to cooperate with US sanctions. He anticipates China's response to new sanctions to be understated, with likely adaptations and new systems rather than a complete cessation of business with Iran. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, suggested that any strategy assuming China would align with Washington on this issue is fundamentally flawed, as China has a strong interest in maintaining its strategic relationship with Iran. The US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that any country facilitating Iran's oil trade would face isolation, yet China, as the largest importer of Iranian maritime crude, buying over 80% last year, has vowed to safeguard its legitimate interests.
