China’s foreign ministry said on Monday, Aug. 24, that Beijing would closely monitor developments and take necessary measures to protect its rights as the United States prepares to announce new Iran sanctions expected to target Tehran’s trading partners. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was scheduled to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. EDT, or 1700 GMT, and has threatened to impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran while urging China to cooperate with Washington. Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called on all parties to act rationally and with restraint, saying sanctions and pressure tactics would not help resolve the issues.