China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and the two countries have grown closer in recent years, with Iran becoming an important supporter of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
But as it responds to the end US sanctions waivers on Iranian oil, China needs to be careful not to jeopardise delicate trade talks with the United States.
Despite publicly opposing the unilateral US sanctions, China may give up its Iranian oil imports to appease Washington.
Al Jazeera's Katrina Yu has more from Beijing.
