China blocks US sanctions against refineries accused of buying Iranian oil

<article data-history-node-id="439453" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/china-blocks-us-sanctions-against-refineries-accused-buying-iranian-oil" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/china-blocks-us-sanctions-against-refineries-accused-buying-iranian-oil" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">China blocks US sanctions against refineries accused of buying Iranian oil</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>China’s commerce ministry said on Saturday that it had issued an injunction to block US sanctions imposed on five Chinese refiners accused of buying Iranian oil, state news agency Xinhua reported.</p> <p>The ministry named the five as Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, and so called "teapot" refineries Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and Shandong Shengxing Chemical.</p> <p>In April, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical, accusing it of buying billions of dollars in Iranian oil, in an escalation of Washington's long-running effort to curb Tehran's oil revenue.</p> <p>The Trump administration last year imposed sanctions on the other four refineries named by the ministry, among others.</p> <p>The Chinese ministry said the US sanctions&nbsp;violate “international law and the basic norms of international relations”.&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </article>