China opposes U.S.' unilateral sanctions against Iran

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Beijing expressed strong opposition to Washington's unilateral sanctions against Tehran, after media reports suggested that all importers of Iranian oil will have to end their imports shortly or be subject to U.S. sanctions.

"China has long been against U.S.' unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against other countries," said Geng Shuang, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, on Monday during a regular press conference.

Long-arm jurisdiction is a U.S. legal term, referring to the ability of a court in a state to exercise jurisdiction over a person in another state.

Late last year, Washington imposed "maximum pressure" against Tehran, snapping back sanctions that had been lifted under the historic 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds up a proclamation declaring his intention to withdraw from the JCPOA Iran nuclear agreement after signing it in the Diplomatic Room at the White House in Washington, DC, May 8, 2018. /VCG Photo

According to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the move was hoping to "compel Iran to permanently abandon its well-documented outlaw activities and behave as a normal country."

Along with sanctions, Washington granted waivers to eight economies that had reduced their purchases of Iranian oil, allowing them to continue buying it without incurring sanctions for six more months. Those economies include countries like China, Japan, and India.

A source familiar with the issue told Reuters that they will no longer be exempt from U.S. sanctions when waivers end on May 2 if they continue to import oil from Iran, an announcement that is expected to be made on Monday.

Beijing: Our cooperation with Tehran is transparent

Lu also reiterated China's stance regarding its cooperation with Iran, saying all activities are legal and transparent, and thus should be respected.

The Chinese government vows to preserve the legal rights of all companies owned by Chinese nationals, Lu said. He also promised Beijing's active role in maintaining stability in the global energy market.

(Cover: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang during a regular press conference. /Foreign Ministry Photo)