China opposes 'illegal curbs'

China on Tuesday said it was against "illegal unilateral sanctions" as Washington moves to impose sweeping secondary sanctions targeting Iran's commercial aviation network. "China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and are not authorised by the UN Security Council," Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, responding to the latest US measures against Tehran. Beijing has repeatedly opposed US sanctions on Iran and what it calls Washington's "long-arm jurisdiction". US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday that operations of Iranian commercial airlines worldwide would effectively be halted beginning on Wednesday under the sanctions campaign. "On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world," Bessent told CNBC on Monday. He warned that foreign airports and companies providing Iranian aircraft with fuel, landing services or ticketing could lose access to the US banking system and dollar clearing.