China Hits US over Sanction List on Iran after Inclusion of Chinese Firms, Individuals

China has expressed disapproval on Monday, Feb. 6, over the United States' new sanction list aimed at Iran after Chinese companies and individuals were included in the list, Reuters reported.

 According to the report, China had "lodged representations" with the U.S. over the new sanctions which was imposed by the new administration on 25 people and entities on Friday, Feb. 3. The sanctions came two days after the U.S. placed "on notice" status on Iran after it conducted a ballistic missile test.

Individuals and foreign companies affected by the sanctions are barred access to the U.S. financial system or from dealing with U.S. companies. They are also covered by secondary sanctions, which mean they are also banned from dealing with them or they may get blacklisted by the U.S. government.

Two Chinese companies and three Chinese individuals were included in the list, the report said. The U.S. Treasury Department identified one of the Chinese nationals as Qin Xianhua.

In a press briefing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that China had sent a protest to the U.S. over the sanctions which the Chinese said were harmful to the interests of a third party and does not help in promoting mutual trust among countries.

"We have consistently opposed any unilateral sanctions," Lu said during the press briefing.

On Sunday, Feb. 5, the executives of the two Chinese companies included in the U.S. list spoke to the media and said that they done nothing illegal as they were only exporting 'normal' goods to the Middle Eastern country.

China has expressed anger in the past over alleged unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Chinese firms and others foreign firms that are related to Iran or North Korea's nuclear plans.

But despite close economic and political ties with Iran, China played a major role in asserting for the signing of a landmark deal in 2015, to curb Iran's nuclear program, the report said.