China Tells Iran It Will Not Comply with U.S. Sanctions

China has communicated to Iran that it will not adhere to U.S. economic sanctions against the country, according to foreign news reports.

On September 26, Yonhap News reported that a senior Iranian official stated to Japan's Kyodo News the day before, "We received a message from the Chinese government that it will not follow the sanctions imposed by the U.S. to increase economic pressure on Iran." This position was conveyed during a meeting between Chinese and Iranian officials earlier this month.

The official added, "There has been no change in China's stance even after the U.S.-China summit held in Washington, D.C. on September 24," asserting that "the U.S. pressure policy against Iran has failed."

Last month, the U.S. announced an 'Operation Economic Outcast' to pressure Iran, which includes sanctions on other countries that trade specific goods with Iran. The core of these sanctions involves imposing secondary sanctions on third-country companies that engage in trade with Iran. The targeted sectors include digital assets and technology, gold, aviation, and shipping, aiming to cut off Iran's international trade network by pressuring foreign companies and intermediaries that support transactions with Iran.

Notably, the U.S. has designated new sanctions against global organizations, individuals, and vessels that assist the Iranian regime in generating oil revenue. China is known to be the largest buyer of Iranian crude oil, purchasing over 80% of its exports.

Kyodo News commented that China's refusal to comply with U.S. sanctions, which could determine the success or failure of the U.S. strategy against Iran, may pose a significant challenge to the United States.