China has called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports “irresponsible and dangerous.”
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the move would “undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement” and further endanger the safety of ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical sea lane that Iran blocked in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.
The US blockade went into effect on Monday, a day after US-Iran peace talks collapsed in Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump has said the move is aimed at forcing Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Analysts say the blockage is also designed to pressure China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, to encourage Tehran to open the strait.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN described the US naval blockade as a “serious violation” of Tehran’s sovereignty.
So far, Chinese ships have been among the few that have managed to pass through the strait. It is unclear whether they had to pay a toll to Iran to do so.
If effective, the US blockade could disrupt China’s supplies and have far-reaching consequences for its economy.
Beijing calls for a ceasefire
“China believes that only by achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the war can we create conditions to ease the situation in the Strait,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun.
“China urges all parties to respect the ceasefire agreements, focus on the standard direction of dialogue and peace talks, take practical actions to promote the easing of the regional situation, and restore normal cross-strait traffic as soon as possible,” Guo added.
Guo also stated at a press conference on Tuesday that reports that China was preparing to deliver new air defense systems to Iran were “completely fabricated.”
Trump has threatened to impose a 50% tariff on products from China if it provides military assistance to Tehran.
“If the United States insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take firm countermeasures,” Guo said.
This comes after US Vice President JD Vance accused Iran of “economic terrorism” over its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, having attacked and threatened to attack ships transiting there since last month.
“Well, as the president of the United States demonstrated, two can play in that game,” he told Fox Recordsdata. “If the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we are going to abide by the simple principle that no Iranian ships will leave either.”
The United States has announced that its military will not prevent ships from using the strait to go to and from non-Iranian ports. Instead, its goal is to blockade Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf by deploying its Navy in the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, rather than risking its ships near the Iranian coast.
However, shipping data analyzed by BBC Test shows that at least four ships linked to Iran crossed the strait on Tuesday. Meanwhile, oil prices fell back below $100 per barrel on Tuesday.
A delicate and fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in force since April 8. The main points of contention between both sides include the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the inclusion of Lebanon in the agreement.
Israel maintains that the truce applies only to Iran and has continued its intense attacks on Hezbollah, killing hundreds of people.
The United States hosted direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials on Tuesday, the first such negotiations in decades.
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- “I should be able to study and not be constantly worried about bombs”: the irreparable damage that the US and Israeli attacks have left on millions of children in Iran
- Why the naval blockade of Iran is a risky move by Trump (and what role China can play to make it work)
