Trade relations between China and Iran do not harm any other country

“For a long time, China and Iran have had open, transparent and normal trade cooperation in the fields of business, trade and energy, which is reasonable, fair and legal. This does not violate the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council or the international commitments promised by China, nor does it harm the interests of any other country, and should be respected and protected ”.

These are the words of the Foreign Ministry of the Asian country pronounced following the warning launched by the President of the United States Donald Trump who had declared that companies that have commercial relations with Iran would be excluded from the United States.

China has already defended its trade relations with Iran by declaring them open and transparent, while US sanctions on Iran have come into effect despite requests from Washington's allies.

The Chinese foreign minister added that using sanctions with the minimum pretext or threatening someone will not solve the problem, only dialogue and negotiations are the real way to solve the problem ".

China, Iran's largest oil customer, purchases around 650.000 barrels a day of crude oil from Tehran, or 7% of total crude oil imports into China. At current market rates, imports are worth about $ 15 billion annually.

The CNPC and Sinopec state-owned energy companies have invested billions of dollars in major Iranian oil fields like Yadavaran and northern Azadegan and sent oil to China.

European countries, hoping to persuade Tehran to continue to abide by the nuclear deal, have promised to try to reduce the blow of sanctions and push their companies not to withdraw.

But that proved difficult, and European companies have left Iran, arguing that they cannot risk their business in the United States.

Trade relations between China and Iran do not harm any other country