Iran warns neighbors over US sanctions as China stands firm

Iran has warned that it will "paralyse" the airports of neighboring countries if they stop Iranian flights due to the new US sanctions. This warning came on Wednesday as China rejected the latest US sanctions and stated it would not follow them.

Mohsen Rezaei, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said on Wednesday that no airport in the Gulf region will operate if Iranian flights are banned.

He said, "If you ban our flights and enter into cooperation with America, your airports will have no flights. If you stand with America, we will not stand by and watch," according to Reuters.

PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that the US threatened other countries with sanctions if they allow Iranian commercial flights to land and operate within their borders.

This is the latest action from Washington aimed at further weakening Iran as the conflict reaches a standstill and talks fail to yield positive outcomes.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed earlier this week that the sanctions would begin on Wednesday.

Washington plans to sanction international airports, ground-handling companies, and ticketing agents if they continue to serve Iranian airlines, according to Bessent.

He said they would be "knocked out of the dollar system."

Bessent added, "If they land, you cannot provide them with fuel, you cannot provide them with landing services, you cannot sell them tickets, or you will be knocked out of the dollar system."

Meanwhile, Iran has stated it will do what is needed to protect its airlines.

Some countries have already started enforcing the sanctions.

Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, and Turkey have all stopped Iranian airlines from using their airports as the US sanctions come into effect.

China, however, has strongly opposed the sanctions. The country has consistently rejected US sanctions on Iran and what it calls Washington’s "long-arm jurisdiction."

Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, stated on Tuesday that China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law.

He said, "China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council."

Jiakun also confirmed that China will continue to allow Iranian carriers to operate in its territory, ignoring Washington's orders.

On Wednesday, a Mahan Air flight from Tehran landed in Guangzhou, despite the new measures taking effect, according to FlightRadar24.

The new US policy is likely to further hurt Iran’s aviation sector.

President Donald Trump had previously demanded that Tehran "put up the white flag of surrender." He also threatened to make the Strait of Hormuz a US territory.

Trump had warned that "a whole civilisation will die… never to be brought back again."

At the UN General Assembly, he threatened to "annihilate" the country.

Iran condemned these threats and stated at the UN that it would continue to protect its territory and citizens from US attacks.