China consistently opposes unilateral US sanctions against Iran, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Monday, slamming US plans to tell it and other countries to stop buying Iranian oil or face sanctions.

Iran Press/ Asia: China consistently opposes unilateral US sanctions against Iran, Reuters quoted the Chinese foreign ministry as saying on Monday amid reports that Washington is expected to announce that buyers of Iranian oil must halt imports soon or face sanctions.

"China has always opposed the US imposition of so-called 'unilateral sanctions' and 'long-arm jurisdiction'," Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a daily news briefing in Beijing on Monday.

He said China’s bilateral cooperation with Iran was in accordance with the law, 'reasonable and legitimate, which thus deserves respect.'

China is a major importer of Iranian oil and was one of eight buyers who were granted a waiver by the United States to continue buying Iranian oil. 

In an effort to increase economic pressure on Iran, the US announced it's ending waivers for countries importing Iran oil.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also told, five countries, including US allies Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, that they will no longer be exempt from US sanctions if they continue importing oil from Iran after May 2 when their waivers are set to expire. The other countries include China and India.105

 

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