China blocks US sanctions against five refineries

SHANGHAI, May 03 (YPA) –China’s Ministry of Commerce said on Saturday it had issued an injunction to block US sanctions imposed on five Chinese refiners accused of buying Iranian oil, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The ministry named the five as Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery, and so called ‘teapot’ refineries Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical and Shandong Shengxing Chemical.

The US sanctions violate “international law and the basic norms of international relations,” the ministry said.

As a result, the ministry said, it had imposed an injunction.

“The injunction stipulates that the United States cannot recognize, implement, or comply with the sanctions imposed on the aforementioned five Chinese companies,” added the ministry.

In April, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Hengli Petrochemical, accusing it of buying billions of dollars in Iranian oil, in an escalation of Washington’s long-running effort to curb Tehran’s oil revenue.

@E.Y.M