Global
The People's Republic of China has reiterated its steadfast opposition to the imposition of unilateral sanctions, affirming that such measures lack a basis in international law and do not carry a mandate from the United Nations Security Council. This assertion came as Beijing responded to inquiries regarding the continued landing of Iranian aircraft at Chinese airports, despite sanctions imposed by the United States on the Iranian aviation sector. During a press conference held in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Gu Jiakun directly addressed questions concerning recent American decisions aimed at halting the global operations of Iranian airlines. He also touched upon China's prospective reception of scheduled Iranian flights to the cities of Guangzhou and Shanghai, emphasizing his country's principled stance. Jiakuun clearly stated, "China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and lack a mandate from the UN Security Council." This Chinese stance comes at a time when U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had previously issued a warning that Iranian airlines would face significant challenges in their international operations due to American sanctions. Bessent indicated that countries continuing to provide landing services or fuel to these companies might face punitive measures that could hinder their access to the global financial system reliant on the dollar.
