China strongly opposes “illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law” and are not authorised by the UN Security Council, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference.
According to media reports, a Mahan Air flight from Tehran successfully landed in the Chinese city of Guangzhou on September 23.
The statement came ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming hours.
In September 2026, the US Treasury Department imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran’s remaining active airlines, including under “Operation Economic Outcast,” accusing the sector of enabling the transport of weapons, personnel, and illicit cargo in support of the Iranian regime and the IRGC.
The measures included suspending key aviation authorisations for overflights and non-US carriers operating US-origin aircraft into Iran, with a wind-down period ending on September 23. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent publicly warned that from September 23 onward, foreign airports, fuel suppliers, and service providers risk exclusion from the US dollar system if they assist Iranian airlines with landing, refuelling, or ticket sales.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
