China urges US to lift Iran-related sanctions on Chinese firms, citizens

China on Thursday urged the United States to lift sanctions imposed on Chinese companies and citizens over alleged links to Iran.

Chinese Commerce Ministry spokeswoman Huang Ling said at a press conference in Beijing that China rejects unilateral US sanctions, saying they have no basis in international law and were not authorised by the UN Security Council.

She said Washington had continued, despite China’s objections, to impose sanctions on Chinese companies and citizens over alleged links to Iran, adding that such measures interfere with normal economic and trade relations between countries and affect global energy security and supply stability.

Huang called on the United States to withdraw and lift the sanctions, stressing that China would continue to protect the legitimate rights and interests of its citizens and companies.

The United States has imposed successive rounds of sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals in recent months over alleged involvement in Iran-related activities, including supplying weapons systems and satellite imagery and brokering the sale and transport of Iranian oil to China.

The US sanctions have also targeted shipping companies that Washington said were involved in transporting Iranian oil and petrochemical products to China, as well as Chinese companies accused of brokering ticket sales for Iranian airline Mahan Air and transporting electronic products from China to Iran.