China opposes ‘illegal’ US sanctions on Iranian airlines

BEIJING, Sept 22 — China expressed opposition to what it deemed "illegal" US sanctions on Iranian airlines, following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's threat of such measures in a televised interview on the previous day. Bessent stated on CNBC that "all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world" in a matter of days, as the Trump administration sought to increase pressure on Tehran.

Beijing, as a major economic partner and a key diplomatic supporter of Iran, strongly rejected the threats on Tuesday, labeling them "illegal" in a news conference. The criticism emerged just prior to US President Donald Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, scheduled to begin the following day. The United States and Iran have been engaged in conflict since late February, following US-Israeli strikes that killed the Islamic republic's supreme leader and several high-ranking military officials, thereby escalating tensions in the region.

In retaliation, Iran blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for global energy transport, leading to a sharp rise in oil prices. In September, the United States imposed sanctions on "all remaining Iranian airlines" that had not yet been targeted, along with additional sanctions against entities supporting Iran's aviation industry, both domestically and internationally.

Treasury Secretary Bessent warned that travelers would face restrictions, such as being unable to purchase fuel, receive landing services, or purchase tickets for Iranian airlines, effectively isolating them from the US financial system. This threat followed a meeting between Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for economic discussions, which paved the way for the upcoming summit between the two nations' leaders.