China tells firms to defy U.S. sanctions in clash over Iranian oil
May 3, 2026
Beijing urges Chinese companies to ignore U.S. sanctions on oil refineries (Photo: REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo)
Chinese authorities have told companies to ignore U.S. sanctions against five domestic oil refineries tied to purchases of Iranian oil, Bloomberg reported on May 2.
Chinese authorities have told companies to ignore U.S. sanctions against five domestic oil refineries tied to purchases of Iranian oil, Bloomberg reported on May 2.
China’s Commerce Ministry said the order applies to Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and Shandong Shengxing Chemical.
“The Chinese government has consistently opposed unilateral sanctions that lack UN authorization and a basis in international law,” the ministry said.
In October 2025, the Trump administration imposed sanctions targeting the transport of Iranian energy products. More than 50 people, entities and vessels tied to Iran’s oil and petrochemical exports were placed under U.S. Treasury restrictions at the time, including Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, which Treasury said had bought millions of barrels of Iranian oil since 2023.
The U.S. Treasury Department blacklisted Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery on April 24, 2026. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the sanctions as “economic fury that pressures the Iranian regime, impedes its aggression in the Middle East and helps limit its nuclear ambitions.”