China slams US blockade on Iranian ports as ‘dangerous, irresponsible’
China has slammed a US blockade around Iranian ports as “dangerous and irresponsible,” after US President Donald Trump threatened to sink any boats that sought to leave or dock there.
“The US increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further jeopardize safety of passage through the Strait [of Hormuz],” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
“This is dangerous and irresponsible behavior,” he added.
China also vowed to impose “countermeasures” in response to Trump’s threats of new tariffs on its goods entering the United States if Beijing provided military assistance to Iran during its war of aggression against the Islamic Republic.
“If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures,” Guo said.
The senior Chinese diplomat further said that reports that China was providing weapons to Iran “are completely fabricated.”
Shipping data indicates that three Iran-linked tankers entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, the first day of a US attempt to impose a blockade.
On February 28, the United States and Israel initiated a large-scale and unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.
In response, Iranian Armed Forces carried out a series of retaliatory missile and drone operations against US and Israeli military assets for over 40 days, which resulted in significant damage.
A two-week ceasefire was brokered on April 8, followed by negotiations in Islamabad, where Iran proposed a ten-point plan seeking US troops’ withdrawal and the lifting of sanctions.
Despite 21 hours of intensive discussions, the negotiations ended without an agreement, with Iran citing a lack of trust in US commitments.
Trump later announced a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, aimed at intercepting vessels that had paid tolls to Iran. The US military said that the blockade would begin on Monday at 1400 GMT, escalating the situation further.
