BEIJING August 21, 2026 — China called on the United States and Iran on Friday to return to dialogue and resolve their disputes through political and diplomatic means, rejecting military action and unilateral sanctions as ineffective.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in Beijing, responding to the latest US pressure measures against Iran.
“China believes that military means, sanctions and pressure tactics are not the solution. On the contrary, they will only lead to escalation that serves no one’s interests. We call for efforts to solve disputes through dialogue and negotiation,” Lin said.
He added that “escalation benefits no side” and urged all parties to act responsibly and settle differences through talks.
Lin also reiterated China’s opposition to “illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council.”
The comments came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced what he described as the “toughest sanctions in history” against Iran and called on countries including China to join efforts to isolate Tehran economically. US President Donald Trump had earlier threatened a “most crushing economic operation” against those supporting Iran.
China, one of the world’s largest buyers of Iranian oil, has consistently argued that pressure and force will not resolve the ongoing conflict that began earlier this year. An interim memorandum of understanding signed between the US and Iran in June 2026 has largely broken down, with intermittent hostilities continuing.
Beijing maintains that only negotiation can de-escalate the situation in the Middle East.
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