China’s Ministry of Commerce blocked sanctions against five refineries accused by the Treasury Department of purchasing Iranian oil on Saturday, according to state media.
The Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Hengli Petrochemical Refinery on April 24, while the other four refineries had sanctions imposed on them back in 2025, according to Reuters.
The ministry claimed that the sanctions “violate international law and the basic norms of international relations,” while the injunction “stipulates that the United States cannot recognize, implement, or comply with the sanctions imposed on the aforementioned five Chinese companies.”
Colloquially known as ‘teapots,’ these independent oil refiners purchase the majority of Iran’s crude oil. According to the department, Hengli is the second-largest teapot refinery in China and “has received Iranian oil cargoes from a host of sanctioned shadow fleet vessels” since at least 2023.
The other four refiners are Shandong Jincheng Petrochemical Group, Hebei Xinhai Chemical Group, Shougang Luqing
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