China rejects US sanctions on companies dealing with Iran

China has rejected the new US unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies over financial transactions with Iran.

Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, on Wednesday said: “China resolutely opposes the United States citing domestic law to unilaterally impose sanctions on Chinese companies or individuals. We believe that what the United States has done will not help resolve the issue and will harm bilateral cooperation on counter-proliferation.”

On Tuesday, the US government added eight Chinese companies, a Dubai firm and two Dubai-based executives to its blacklist for having dealings with Tehran.

Qin added: “China urges the United States to stop these wrong acts of putting sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals and return to the correct path of anti-proliferation cooperation.”

The new sanctions come as the US and other permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are holding talks with Iran over its nuclear energy program.