China says US sanctions on Iran will only worsen conflict
Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese government has said that plans to impose economic sanctions on Iran and countries with ties to Iran will only worsen the conflict in the Middle East.
“Sanctions and pressure tactics do not help in resolving problems. They will only cause escalation that benefits no one,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.
In a post on Wednesday (19/8) on Truth Social, US President Donald Trump announced the most devastating economic operation ever carried out against any country that provides vital assistance to Iran.
“This will be Economic War and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,” Trump said, calling the move “ECONOMIC D-DAY.”
Trump also asked his allies to support Washington’s plan.
“China calls on all parties to act rationally and with restraint, and to avoid any actions that could further escalate tensions or deal a blow to global economic growth and financial stability,” Lin Jian added.
Lin Jian urged both the US and Iran to return to the right path of political settlement through dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible.
“China will closely monitor related developments and do what is necessary to protect our legitimate rights and interests,” Lin Jian said.
Lin Jian also said that Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi met with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Miao Deyu in Beijing on 17 August 2026, although he did not elaborate on the meeting.
“China is closely following the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region and has actively committed to promoting peace talks. We are ready to act in accordance with the spirit of the four proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping on maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East and to continue working to help restore peace and calm in the Middle East as soon as possible,” Lin Jian added.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday (23/8) that the US is entering an “Economic D-Day” operation against Iran. The US government, according to Bessent, will use every available resource to further isolate Iran economically and cut off sources of support for the Iranian government.
“The President (Trump) has created the conditions to use every agency, every authority, and actions that many people thought we would never take. Our goal is to cut off every economic resource that sustains this tyrannical regime until Iran stands alone,” Bessent said.
He also warned governments and other parties not to assume that the US will not impose sanctions on those who oppose US policy towards Iran.
“Iran has survived by disguising extortion as security guarantees. They derive strength from the calculation that Iranian retaliation is inevitable, while US enforcement actions are considered negotiable,” he said.
However, Bessent did not provide further details on specific economic measures or which agencies would be involved in the economic offensive.
Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on 18 June 2026 calling for a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of shipping through the strait, and scheduled negotiations within 60 days, ending on 17 August, to reach a final agreement.
However, the agreement subsequently failed to be implemented due to disputes over the terms of its application and the future of navigation in the waterway.
The conflict began on 28 February 2026 when the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran. Tehran then responded by striking a number of targets in Israel as well as US military bases in the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that Tehran is in a “full-scale war” and the government continues to work to overcome the various difficulties facing the country.
“The enemy expected that if Iran fell, Iran would become Venezuela. Not only did that not happen, but Iran has become a power that amazes the world through its resistance, solidarity and unity,” Masoud Pezeshkian said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the Iranian government will use every means to counter economic pressure from the US.
“Iran will certainly use all its multilateral options to counter these economic sanctions,” Baghaei said.
He added that Tehran had previously planned measures to deal with such a scenario, and said Iran has warned many countries that involvement in US actions, including a naval blockade, will have consequences.