China Blocks U.S. Sanctions on 'Teapot' Refineries Over Iranian Oil
China has issued an injunction to block U.S. sanctions against five Chinese 'teapot' refineries accused of importing oil from Iran. The U.S. Department of the Treasury had imposed these sanctions to penalize the refineries for allegedly generating significant revenue for the Iranian military. China's Ministry of Commerce criticized the sanctions as a violation of international law and issued a prohibition order to prevent their enforcement. The refineries, including Hengli Petrochemical and others, are crucial to China's oil supply, particularly from sanctioned countries like Iran. These smaller, independent refineries play a significant role in China's energy strategy.