China chastises anti-Iran US sanctions as ‘illegal, unilateral’
China voiced strong opposition to US sanctions, calling the curbs on three China-based companies, which the US claimed enabled Iran’s military operations, illegal and unilateral.
“We have always required Chinese enterprises to conduct business in accordance with laws and regulations, and will firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said.
Guo emphasized the importance of making every possible effort to prevent a resumption of hostilities in the region as the world's most urgent priority at this juncture.
“The pressing priority is to prevent by all means a relapse in fighting, rather than using the war to maliciously associate and smear other countries.”
The US State Department this week sanctioned three Chinese companies it accused of aiding Tehran during the US-Israeli aggression against Iran, the latest in the back-and-forth between the two countries just days before President Donald Trump will meet with China’s leader Xi Jinping in a high-stakes confab in Beijing.
The agency accused the firms — Meentropy Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, The Earth Eye and Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. — of “providing satellite imagery that enables Iran’s military strikes against US forces in the Middle East,” according to a fact sheet Friday.
“The United States will continue to take action to hold China-based entities accountable for their support to Iran and ensure Iran cannot reconstitute its proliferation-sensitive programs following Operation Epic Fury,” the State Department wrote.
“The targeting of US service members and partners will not go unanswered.”