China has strongly opposed "illegal" US sanctions aimed at grounding all Iranian airlines globally. The condemnation follows US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's threat that any foreign entity servicing Iranian carriers from Wednesday (September 23) will face severe economic penalties.
Bessent warned that airports, fuel suppliers and ticketing agencies worldwide must stop providing services to Iranian planes. "If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel or landing services or you will be knocked out of the dollar system" he stated.
This aggressive measure is part of the Trump administration's broader campaign to financially isolate Tehran amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict which escalated following joint US-Israeli strikes in late February. The war has already disrupted global energy markets, particularly after Iran blocked the vital Strait of Hormuz.
In response to the US threats the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing's stance and stating that China consistently opposes unilateral sanctions that lack UN Security Council authorization. However, Bessent claimed to have had positive discussions regarding sanction compliance with Chinese financial authorities ahead of the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Iran’s aviation industry has been crippled by years of US sanctions, leaving carriers struggling to acquire new aircraft, spare parts or maintenance services. This latest threat of secondary sanctions aims to completely sever the nation's remaining ties to the international travel and financial systems.
