Despite European efforts to defuse tensions between the U.S. and Iran, Washington is imposing sanctions on Chinese companies for buying Iranian oil.
Speaking on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington's decision was in response to violations of unilateral U.S. sanctions.
Pompeo said the sanctions target six Chinese companies and their 5 CEOs.
He added that his country will intensify its efforts to educate countries AND companies on the risk of doing business with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its entities, stressing that punishment is inevitable if they ignore their warnings.
Washington's sanctions come as France pushes last-minute efforts to arrange a meeting at the UN General Assembly between leaders of the U.S. and Iran.