China condemns US naval blockade of Iranian ports as irresponsible and dangerous
via The Namibian3 hours ago6 min read
China has labeled the US naval blockade of Iranian ports as "irresponsible and dangerous," stating it could jeopardize the fragile ceasefire agreement and the safety of ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade, which began on Monday after peace talks between the US and Iran failed, is intended to pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions and encourage China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, to push Tehran to reopen the strait. Iran's ambassador to the UN described the blockade as a "grave violation" of its sovereignty. China's foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun urged all parties to adhere to ceasefire arrangements and promote dialogue to restore normal traffic in the strait. Guo also denied reports that China was preparing to deliver air defense systems to Iran and warned of "resolute countermeasures" if the US imposed additional tariffs on China based on such claims. US Vice-President JD Vance defended the blockade, calling it a response to Iran's "economic terrorism" in the Strait of Hormuz. The US aims to blockade Iran's Gulf ports from the Gulf of Oman and the Indian Ocean, avoiding direct confrontation near Iran's coast. Despite the blockade, shipping data indicates that at least four Iran-linked ships crossed the strait on Tuesday, while oil prices fell below $100 per barrel.
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Original source
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
