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Beijing condemns US sanctioning Chinese companies for alleged Iran aid

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Mar 2023 18:59

The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the sanctions the US has imposed on Chinese firms for their alleged Iranian support.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning gestures during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Wednesday, March 1, 2023 (AP Photo/Liu Zheng)

The US sanctions against Chinese firms for allegedly supporting Iran's drone program "violate international law and basic norms of international relations," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Friday.

"Beijing will continue to vigorously defend the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies in accordance with the law", the spokesperson added, emphasizing that China has always strongly opposed it.

The United States sanctioned five Chinese companies claiming that they were "responsible for the sale and shipment of thousands of aerospace components, including components that can be used for UAV [unmanned aerial vehicles] applications, to the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA)," according to the US Treasury Department.

The statement also revealed that the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is designing a network for those allegedly supporting Iran's aerial vehicle (UAV) procurement efforts.

"HESA has been involved in the production of the Shahed-136 UAV model that Iran has used to attack oil tankers and has exported to Russia," the Treasury stated while sanctioning the Chinese companies.

Western allies have long accused Iran of supplying drones to Russia midst of the war in Ukraine, despite Tehran's constant striking down of allegations.

If China is to aid Iran in manufacturing aircraft which might reach Russia, the US announced it will retaliate by imposing sanctions on the Chinese companies who are providing said aid.