File Photo: VCG.

China urges the US to immediately remove illegal sanctions imposed on Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited, adding the government will firmly commit itself to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of its companies, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

The comments came after the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) said that China-based Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited had been acting as a general sales agent (GSA) for or on behalf of Iranian airline Mahan Air, according to a statement from the US Department of the Treasury on Tuesday.

"All property and interests in property of Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC," read the statement. 

"OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all dealing by US persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve property or interest in property of blocked or designated persons. In addition, persons that engage in certain transactions with Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited may themselves be exposed to designation."

China's foreign ministry responded to the illegal sanctioning measure taken by the US.

"At this critical moment when the international community is working together to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the US is still pursuing unilateralism and 'extreme pressure,' which runs counter to the efforts of the international community to unite in the fight against the pandemic and seriously violates the spirit of humanity," Zhao Lijian, spokesperson of the foreign ministry, told a routine press conference on Wednesday.