China said on Tuesday it would safeguard its interests after Washington laid out plans for the "economic asphyxiation" of Iran.

Almost six months into its war with Iran, the United States issued new penalties on some entities including in China and expanded secondary sanctions threats, urging governments worldwide to join its economic campaign.

Beijing has advocated for a ceasefire, and insisted US sanctions will not resolve the conflict.

"Cooperation between China and Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be interfered with or disrupted," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

"China has already stated many times that it firmly opposes illegal unilateral sanctions... China will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests."

China's response came as the mediator between the United States and Iran, Pakistan, made "significant progress" in the latest talks with Tehran that focused on measures such as prevention of further escalation of the conflict and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, its military said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The Iranian president candidly shared his government's perspective and we had a very constructive exchange on the issues involved," Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who accompanied army chief Asim Munir to Tehran, said on X. (Agencies)


Edited by Edmond Fong