China says opposes ‘illegal’ US sanctions on Iran airlines

On Tuesday, China expressed opposition to the "illegal" US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines. This stance came just a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned of potential measures during a televised interview. Bessent suggested that "all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world" in a matter of days due to the weight of American sanctions.

The Trump administration is aiming to intensify pressure on Tehran. China, a significant economic partner and diplomatic ally of Iran, strongly condemned the threat, labeling it as "illegal unilateral sanctions" lacking a foundation in international law or UN Security Council authorization. The foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, made this statement during a news conference.

The US-China summit, which began on Thursday, took place with Chinese President Xi Jinping attending. This development unfolds amid a conflict between the US and Iran since late February, triggered by US-Israeli strikes that killed the Iranian supreme leader and senior military officials. The subsequent retaliation saw Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for energy transit, leading to a surge in global oil prices as the conflict escalated in the Middle East.

The United States has imposed sanctions on "all remaining Iranian airlines" that had not yet been targeted. The Treasury Department also focused on entities supporting Iran's aviation sector, both domestically and internationally. Treasury Secretary Bessent made his remarks during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, on January 20, 2026.

His threats of an "economic D-Day" on Iran were made following a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng for economic discussions, paving the way for the upcoming summit between the two countries' leaders.