China Urges US To Abandon Iran Pressure, Seek Diplomatic Solution Instead

China on Friday rejected the United States' use of sanctions and economic pressure against Iran, saying such measures would not help resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Beijing's position came after Washington urged governments, including China, to participate in efforts to isolate the Iranian economy. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the crisis could not be resolved through pressure and called on all relevant parties to pursue political and diplomatic means. His comments highlighted the growing disagreement between Beijing and Washington over how to respond to Tehran as the United States seeks stronger international backing for its economic campaign against Iran.

Asked about US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran, Lin said sanctions and pressure would not help resolve the issue. He urged all parties involved in the conflict to take what he described as responsible measures and work towards a political settlement. "China calls on all relevant parties to take responsible measures and resolve the problem through political and diplomatic means," Lin told reporters in Beijing. The statement reflected China's broader position that dialogue and negotiations should be prioritised over measures that could further escalate tensions. Beijing has repeatedly criticised unilateral economic restrictions imposed without authorisation from the United Nations Security Council, particularly when such measures affect countries or entities outside the jurisdiction of the imposing government.

The comments came after the United States stepped up its rhetoric over economic pressure on Tehran. Washington has vowed to intensify its campaign against Iran and has threatened measures aimed at putting further strain on the country's economy. The United States has said its strategy could contribute to the collapse of the Iranian regime. Tehran, however, has strongly rejected the approach and described American economic pressure as "economic terrorism". Iranian authorities have argued that sanctions will not force the country to change its position and have criticised Washington's efforts to build wider international support for its campaign. The dispute has added another layer to tensions surrounding the broader Middle East conflict, with the United States seeking greater economic isolation of Iran while China advocates diplomatic engagement.

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US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has defended Trump's push for increased economic pressure on Tehran. In an interview with CNBC, Bessent was asked whether Washington would seek to pressure China into joining the campaign against Iran. He indicated that some discussions with Beijing were better handled privately but also publicly called on China to "get with the programme". His comments suggested that the United States wants major economic powers to cooperate with its efforts to restrict Iran's access to international markets and weaken the financial channels available to Tehran. China's position, however, indicates that Beijing is unlikely to endorse unilateral measures simply because of pressure from Washington.

Lin was asked again about Bessent's remarks and reiterated Beijing's call for responsible action by all parties. He also restated China's opposition to unilateral sanctions that it considers unlawful under international law. "China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council," Lin said. The statement places China's objections within its broader criticism of sanctions imposed outside multilateral frameworks. Beijing has frequently argued that international disputes should be addressed through the United Nations and diplomatic mechanisms rather than through unilateral economic coercion.

China's latest comments underline the widening gap between its approach and that of the Trump administration over Iran. While Washington is seeking to use economic pressure to influence Tehran and encourage other governments to restrict economic ties with Iran, Beijing is calling for negotiations and a political solution. The disagreement also carries wider implications because China is an important economic partner for Iran and has previously opposed several US sanctions regimes. For Beijing, the emphasis on diplomacy reflects its stated preference for resolving international conflicts through dialogue. For Washington, economic pressure remains a central tool for attempting to alter Tehran's behaviour. The competing positions are likely to remain a significant point of friction between the two powers as the Middle East conflict continues.

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