China bans compliance with US sanctions on five companies linked to Iran
Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday issued a blocking order prohibiting the recognition, enforcement, and compliance with United States sanctions imposed on five Chinese companies over alleged involvement in Iranian oil transactions.
The five companies are Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refining Co., Ltd., Shandong Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical Co., Ltd., Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group Co., Ltd., Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group Co., Ltd., and Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., Ltd.
According to the Ministry of Commerce’s announcement, the US measures include listing these companies on the Specially Designated Nationals List, freezing their assets, and prohibiting transactions with them.
Since 2025, based on its executive orders targeting other countries, the US has imposed sanctions on these Chinese companies over alleged involvement in oil transactions with Iran, a Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said on Saturday in response to the order.
The spokesperson stated that the US actions have improperly prohibited or restricted normal economic and trade activities between Chinese companies and third countries, as well as their citizens, legal entities, or other organisations. These US steps violate international law and basic norms of international relations.
To safeguard sovereignty, security, and national development interests, as well as to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens, legal entities, and other organisations, China’s Ministry of Commerce issued this order under the Regulations on Countering the Unjustified Extraterritorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reaffirmed that the Chinese government consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that lack United Nations authorisation and a basis in international law.
As a concrete measure to implement these Regulations in accordance with the law, the issuance of this order does not affect China’s fulfilment of international obligations, nor does it affect China’s legal protection of the legitimate rights and interests of foreign investment enterprises, the spokesperson added.
China’s Ministry of Commerce will continue to closely monitor the unjustified extraterritorial application of foreign laws and measures, and will take further actions in accordance with the law if such situations arise, the spokesperson said.