WASHINGTON, August 25. /TASS/. Beijing opposes illegal unilateral US sanctions and will firmly protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies, Chinese Embassy Spokesman Liu Chang told TASS on Monday.

"We stand firmly against illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council. We will firmly protect Chinese businesses’ legitimate and lawful rights and interests," Liu Chang said in response to the inclusion of Chinese individuals and entities on the US sanctions list targeting Iran.

On Monday, the US administration added 48 entities, 24 individuals and six oil tankers to its Iran sanctions list. The blacklist included individuals and companies from Azerbaijan, Greece, India, Iran, China, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, France and Switzerland.