China defies US warning, keeps Iran ties open

Beijing said it will not change its trade relationship with Iran, pushing back against fresh US threats aimed at isolating Tehran. The statement comes just one month before a planned meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump. “China’s position on Iran is consistent and clear,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, without giving further details. The remark signals that Beijing will maintain its economic and diplomatic links with Tehran despite Washington’s pressure on foreign firms to stop dealing with Iranian oil and banking sectors. The US has recently stepped up warnings to countries that continue trading with Iran, calling such deals a threat to regional security. China, Iran’s largest oil buyer, has so far avoided direct confrontation with Washington, but officials stress that no external pressure will dictate Chinese policy. The upcoming Xi-Trump summit is expected to address trade, security, and Iran. Analysts say Beijing is balancing its need to avoid a costly trade war with its long-standing principle of non-interference in other nations’ affairs. For now, China’s message is clear: it will not abandon its partners under threat, even as it keeps the door open for dialogue with Washington.