{
  "id": 3294716,
  "title": "China warns US of retaliation over expansion of Iran sanctions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-warns-us-of-retaliation-over-expansion-of-iran-sanctions-3294716",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T15:23:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/china-warns-us-retaliation-over-expansion-iran-sanctions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has issued a stern warning to the United States regarding a potential retaliation if Washington extends its sanctions campaign against Iran to include Chinese companies. This warning emerged following US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement on Monday of measures designed to further isolate Iran and penalize countries that continue to engage in trade with Tehran by excluding them from the dollar-based financial system. Beijing has reportedly cautioned against any significant expansion of secondary sanctions targeting Chinese businesses, with a foreign ministry spokesperson asserting that China would employ \"all necessary measures\" to safeguard its interests. The spokesperson reiterated Beijing's stance against unilateral sanctions lacking UN Security Council authorization and called for de-escalation and a return to negotiations over the US-Iran conflict. Washington's latest sanctions package has targeted 60 individuals, companies, and vessels, including entities located in mainland China and Hong Kong. However, the package avoided singling out major Chinese banks allegedly involved in facilitating Iranian oil trade. When questioned about Chinese financial institutions on Monday, Bessent stated that no entity is beyond the reach of US sanctions, though he did not specify which entities might face additional measures or the timing of any potential sanctions. The potential sanctions against major Chinese companies are particularly contentious, as China has historically been the largest importer of Iranian crude oil.",
  "summary": "China warns US of retaliation over expansion of Iran sanctions China on Tuesday warned the US that it could retaliate if Washington expands its sanctions campaign against Iran to target Chinese companies, potentially opening a new front in tensions between the world’s two largest economies. The warning came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced measures aimed at further…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "China: New US sanctions on Iran 'will only further intensify tensions'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-new-us-sanctions-on-iran-will-only-further-intensify-tensions",
        "published": "2026-08-25T13:54:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "China says will safeguard its own interests as US expands Iran sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-says-will-safeguard-its-own-interests-as-us-expands-iran",
        "published": "2026-08-25T14:43:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "China warns US of retaliation over expansion of Iran sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-warns-us-of-retaliation-over-expansion-of-iran-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-08-25T15:06:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "U.S. threatens to hit Iran's trade partners with secondary economic sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/u-s-threatens-to-hit-irans-trade-partners-with-secondary-economic",
        "published": "2026-08-25T15:18:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "China hits out at ‘illegal’ new US sanctions on Iran and trading partners",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-hits-out-at-illegal-new-us-sanctions-on-iran-and-trading",
        "published": "2026-08-25T15:54:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Oil falls over 4% as investors shrug off US sanctions on Iran",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/oil-falls-over-4-as-investors-shrug-off-us-sanctions-on-iran",
        "published": "2026-08-25T16:37:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "GBC Ghana",
        "title": "China vows to defend interests as US expands Iran sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/china-vows-to-defend-interests-as-us-expands-iran-sanctions",
        "published": "2026-08-25T16:58:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hellenic Shipping News",
        "title": "Iran says it is ‘fully prepared’ to counter widened US economic sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/iran-says-it-is-fully-prepared-to-counter-widened-us-economic",
        "published": "2026-08-25T17:00:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}