China and Iran sanctions: what US moves mean for Beijing, and its retaliation options

INTELLIGENCE SUMMARY

The United States has imposed sweeping sanctions on nearly 60 Iran-linked entities, spanning digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping, as Washington seeks to “sever every economic lifeline” that sustains Tehran. Beijing denounced the measures, with the Chinese foreign ministry calling them “illegal unilateral sanctions” and vowing to “take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its rights and interests”. With the fresh sanctions complicating an already delicate diplomatic...