BEIJING, 21 August, 2026 (Ghufran): China has said that US sanctions and economic pressure will not help resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Washington has previously urged various governments, including China, to join its efforts to isolate Iran’s economy. Responding to a question about US President Donald Trump’s threats, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said sanctions and pressure would not contribute to resolving the issue. He urged all relevant parties to act responsibly and resolve the dispute through political and diplomatic means. The United States says its economic campaign will force the Iranian government to yield, while Tehran has described the pressure as “economic terrorism” and said the campaign is destined to fail.When US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked whether Washington would pressure Beijing to join the campaign, he said it was often better to discuss many issues privately, while urging Beijing to participate in the programme. Responding to Bessent’s remarks, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China opposed unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and have not been authorized by the United Nations Security Council.