CHINA has condemned fresh sanctions imposed by the United States on three Chinese companies accused of facilitating Iran’s military operations, escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington amid ongoing instability in the Middle East.
Speaking during a regular press briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun accused the United States of pursuing unilateral and illegal punitive measures against Chinese entities.
“We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws and regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” Reuters cited Guo saying.
The latest sanctions were introduced by Washington amid heightened scrutiny over international networks allegedly supporting Iran’s military capabilities and regional operations.
Beijing, however, rejected any suggestion that Chinese firms were acting improperly and accused the United States of politicising the broader regional conflict.
“The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate and smear other countries,” Guo added.
China’s response reflects its increasingly confrontational stance towards what it views as the extraterritorial application of American sanctions, particularly against Chinese companies operating internationally.
The dispute also comes against the backdrop of growing geopolitical friction between the world’s two largest economies, with disagreements spanning trade, technology, security and competing strategic interests in the Middle East and Asia-Pacific region.
Washington has not publicly detailed the full extent of the alleged activities involving the sanctioned firms, but the move is expected to further strain already fragile diplomatic ties between the United States and China as both powers continue to clash over Iran-related policies and global influence. - May 11, 2026
