BEIJING — China has informed the United States that it will continue purchasing Iranian oil despite ongoing U.S. sanctions targeting entities involved in the trade, according to statements attributed to Chinese authorities and reports circulating in diplomatic circles.
The move, which Chinese officials reportedly say is backed by domestic legal and regulatory measures, signals a direct challenge to Washington’s efforts to restrict Iran’s oil exports through secondary sanctions on foreign refiners and trading firms.
According to the reports, Beijing has introduced or relied on a legal mechanism described as a “blocking order,” aimed at preventing the domestic enforcement of certain extraterritorial sanctions it considers unlawful under international trade rules. Chinese authorities have argued that such measures are necessary to safeguard national energy security and economic stability.
The United States has not yet issued an official response to the reported announcement. However, Washington has previously warned that continued purchases of Iranian oil by third countries could expose companies and financial institutions to penalties under U.S. sanctions law.
Energy trade between China and Iran has grown significantly in recent years, often conducted through complex shipping and payment arrangements designed to avoid direct exposure to Western financial systems.
Analysts say the latest development underscores widening tensions between the world’s two largest economies over the use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, and reflects China’s broader push to resist unilateral economic pressure from the United States.
Diplomatic observers also note that if formally implemented, a legal blocking framework could further complicate enforcement of U.S. sanctions, potentially deepening divisions in the global energy and financial system.
