Kyodo News: “China conveys its position that it will not comply with US sanctions against Iran”

Kyodo News reports citing a high-ranking Iranian official... “We may be hit by US sanctions.”

(Tokyo = Yonhap News) Correspondent Jo Seong-mi = The Chinese government has conveyed to the Iranian government its position that it will not comply with the U.S. Donald Trump administration's economic sanctions against Iran, and this policy remains unchanged after the U.S.-China summit, Kyodo News reported on the 26th (local time).

A senior Iranian government official told Kyodo News that he had been informed that the Chinese government would not comply with sanctions imposed by the U.S. government to increase economic pressure on Iran.

According to this official, China's position was conveyed at a meeting between Chinese and Iranian officials held this month.

This official noted that China's policy remained unchanged even after the U.S.-China summit held in Washington, D.C. on the 24th, and asserted, "The U.S. policy of putting pressure on Iran has failed."

Late last month, the United States declared 'Operation Economic Outcast', imposing sanctions on other countries that trade certain goods with Iran in order to put pressure on Iran.

In particular, the United States has designated organizations, individuals, and ships around the world that help the Iranian regime generate oil revenue as targets of new sanctions.

China is known to be the largest buyer, purchasing more than 80% of Iranian crude oil.

U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue appeared on CNBC on the 25th and said that President Trump clearly conveyed at the summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping that China's support for Iran is unacceptable.

Kyodo News explained that China's refusal to comply with sanctions, which can determine the success or failure of the United States' strengthening of sanctions against Iran, could be a blow to the United States.