An Iranian commercial flight landed in China on Wednesday despite a US threat to impose sanctions on countries and entities facilitating Iranian air travel, according to flight-tracking data.
A Mahan Air flight from Tehran landed in Guangzhou, China, according to FlightRadar24 tracking data, on the same day Washington had threatened to “shut down” Iranian carriers and punish entities conducting business with them.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned earlier this week that countries providing Iranian aircraft with “landing services” would be “knocked out of the dollar system,” without providing further details on how the measure would be implemented.
The flight was reportedly not listed on the official website of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, the airport identified by FlightRadar24 as the aircraft’s landing location.
The reported landing came as Beijing reiterated its opposition to Washington’s unilateral sanctions on Iran, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry stressing that such coercive measures lack a basis in international law.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reaffirmed on Wednesday Beijing’s firm opposition to the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran.
Asked whether Beijing would continue permitting flights arriving from Tehran to land at Chinese airports, Guo Jiakun stressed that “China’s position is based on firm principles that do not change,” reiterating China’s strong opposition to any unilateral coercive measures that lack a basis in international law.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson noted that the US sanctions and threats lack any authorization or mandate from the United Nations Security Council, thereby depriving them of legal legitimacy under the international legal order.
In a similar vein, China warned on Tuesday that the expansion of US sanctions targeting entities and individuals linked to Iran, including some residing in Chinese territory, “should not disrupt” or “undermine” its cooperation with Tehran. Beijing stressed that “China-Iran cooperation is consistent with international law.”
The developments underscore the growing challenge to Washington’s unilateral sanctions regime, as US pressure on Iran faces resistance from countries asserting their own ties and obligations under international law.