China on Tuesday announced its opposition to U.S. sanctions, which it described as “illegal,” imposed on Iranian airlines, a day after statements by the U.S. Treasury Secretary regarding their imminent cessation of operations under pressure from U.S. sanctions.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman “Guo Jiakun” said at a press conference that his country “has consistently opposed unilateral, illegal sanctions that are not in line with international law and have not been approved by the United Nations Security Council,” according to Agence France-Presse.
U.S. Treasury Secretary “Scott Bessent” had said that all Iranian airlines would cease operations as of September 23. He added in an interview with CNBC: “How will we do that? If these aircraft land, they will not be allowed to refuel, landing services will not be provided to them, and tickets will not be allowed to be sold for them. Otherwise, the violating entity will be excluded from the dollar-based financial system.”
“Bessent” explained that Washington is exerting pressure on Iran “on an unprecedented scale,” stressing that the United States is targeting entities supporting Tehran around the world, including banking institutions. The U.S. Treasury Department had announced last week the imposition of new sanctions on Russia’s state-owned VTB Bank, as part of efforts to economically isolate Iran by targeting its trading partners and what it describes as “financial facilitators” who help it circumvent sanctions.
“Bessent” pointed out that Chinese officials are “deeply involved” in the U.S. campaign of economic pressure on Iran. On September 8, the United States imposed sanctions on “all remaining Iranian airlines” that had still been outside the scope of U.S. measures aimed at increasing economic pressure on Tehran.
The U.S. Treasury Department said the measure also targets “36 entities providing support to Iran’s aviation sector, which the regime uses to transport weapons, personnel, and illicit shipments.”
The department explained that the sanctions, which come under “Operation Economic Outcast,” also target front companies, foreign intermediaries, and convoluted shipping routes used by Iran to obtain U.S.-made aircraft and sensitive technology.
United News Network – UNN Arabic
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Author: Counselor Faisal Al-Mutairi.
Publication Date: September 22, 2026.
Updated: September 2026.
