China Defends Cooperation With Iran Amid US Warnings | Opening Trade 8/25/2026

Beijing threatened to retaliate against the US and signaled it won't back away from its cooperation with Iran after the Trump administration's latest sanctions targeted businesses in China and Hong Kong. Bessent unveiled dozens of new sanctions on entities, individuals and vessels, but the main thrust of a high-profile press conference was threatening so-called secondary sanctions against companies and countries that continue doing business with Iran.