The United States imposed a new wave of sanctions on Iran on Monday, which it said would cut off the economic lifeline that sustains the country. Experts said the move appears unlikely to force Tehran to bow down, but will further strain the global economy.

　　US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a news release on Monday that the new sectoral sanctions target five critical sectors: digital assets, technology, gold, aviation and shipping.

　　According to the department, starting on Monday, "the actions of Treasury and other agencies will tighten the noose and block every potential source of revenue that funds the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian regime".

　　The department added that countries and entities continuing to do business with Iran will face heightened secondary sanctions risks.

　　"Every country has a defined timeline to shut down activities we have identified. If they do not take action, we will do so unilaterally through Treasury authorities," it said. "Any entity that facilitates money laundering on behalf of Iran will be removed from the US dollar system."

　　China firmly opposed on Tuesday these illegal unilateral sanctions, which it said lack any basis in international law and the authorization of the United Nations Security Council.

　　Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news conference that China's cooperation with Iran has always been conducted within the framework of international law and should not be disrupted.

　　The country will take all necessary measures to firmly safeguard its own rights and interests, he added.

　　The spokesman stressed that economic warfare and maximum pressure will not help resolve the issue, but only further escalate tensions, create spillover risks, disrupt the global economic and financial order, and harm the legitimate rights and interests of other countries.