politics
China Blocks U.S. Sanctions on Five Refineries Accused of Buying Iranian Oil
China's Ministry of Commerce has blocked U.S. sanctions against five oil refineries accused of purchasing Iranian oil. The move occurred ahead of a planned May 14 summit between the U.S. president and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The sanctions were imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department on the refineries for dealings with Iran.
May 2, 10:00 PM·1m read1 source
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China's Ministry of Commerce blocked U.S. sanctions against five oil refineries accused of buying Iranian oil, according to state media. The action took place on Saturday. The ministry stated that the sanctions violate international law and the basic norms of international relations.
The injunction stipulates that the United States cannot recognize, implement, or comply with the sanctions on the five Chinese companies. These independent oil refiners, known as teapots, purchase the majority of Iran's crude oil.
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Hengli Petrochemical Refinery on April 24, according to Reuters. Sanctions on the other four refineries—Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shougang Luqing Petrochemical, and Shandong Shengxing Chemical—were imposed in 2025.
Hengli is the second-largest teapot refinery in China and has received Iranian oil cargoes from sanctioned shadow fleet vessels since at least 2023, according to the department. The department also sanctioned 40 shipping firms and vessels in the late April announcement.
“Economic Fury is imposing a financial stronghold on the Iranian regime, hampering its aggression in the Middle East, and helping to curtail its nuclear ambitions.”
The announcement comes ahead of a May 14-15 visit between the U.S. president and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. It is the first scheduled visit to China by a U.S. president since 2017. The summit could address trade, sanctions, and international relations amid ongoing tensions over Iran's oil exports. Stakeholders in the oil industry and international diplomacy are monitoring developments closely.
