🔥 China Hits Back at US Sanctions: Orders Block on Restrictions Over Iranian Oil Trade

China blocks US sanctions on Chinese refiners accused of buying Iranian oil, escalating tensions between Beijing and Washington over energy trade restrictions.

Asian Media Network | Published on: May 3, 2026, 12:47 AM

BEIJING | May 3, 2026 In a sharp escalation of trade and geopolitical tensions, China’s Ministry of Commerce has announced it has issued an injunction blocking fresh sanctions imposed by the United States targeting Chinese oil refiners accused of purchasing Iranian crude.

According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the move comes after Washington recently sanctioned five Chinese refining entities, alleging violations linked to Iranian oil imports, a claim Beijing strongly rejects.

The Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China stated that the sanctions are “unilateral coercive measures” that violate international trade norms and unfairly target Chinese companies operating in legitimate energy markets.

Beijing’s countermeasure signals a deepening rift between the world’s two largest economies, especially as energy trade involving Iran remains a highly sensitive geopolitical flashpoint under existing Western restrictions.