MIDDLE EAST MONITORING DESK ISLAMABAD China has signalled support for Iran and warned against interference, after the United States announced a naval blockade targeting Iranian maritime traffic.
Responding to the move, China’s defence minister, Dong Jun, said Beijing was commited for peace and stability in the world and was “monitoring the situation in the Middle East.”
“Our ships are moving in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz. We have trade & energy agreements with Iran. We will respect & honour them and expect others not to meddle in our affairs,” he said. “Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and it is open for us.”
The comments came after the United States Central Command said its forces would begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports from 10 a.m. ET on 13 April (7:30 p.m. IST), in line with a presidential order.
CENTCOM said the blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
The US forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, it added.
Additional information will be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade. All mariners are advised to monitor Notice to Mariners broadcasts and contact U.S. naval forces on bridge-to-bridge channel 16 when operating in the Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz approaches.
The US move follows failed ceasefire talks between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan.
Early shipping data indicated the announcement disrupted maritime traffic, with limited movement through the strait compared to pre-war levels.
The blockade could also affect China’s energy supplies. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil, and any disruption to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz may impact both Iran’s revenue and China’s oil flow.
Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf derided US President Donald Trump’s threat of a naval blockade against Iran, saying such actions would ultimately lead to an increased longing for the days of paying $4-5 for gas.
In a post on his X account on Sunday night, Qalibaf dismissed Trump’s threats of a naval blockade on Iran, implying that such measures would backfire.
“Enjoy the current pump figures. With the so-called ‘blockade’, Soon you’ll be nostalgic for $4–$5 gas,” he reminded Americans.
Islamabad Talks – What Happened ? What Next ? by Tazeen Akhtar
The spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbia Central Headquarters of Iran condemned the US’ decision to impose restrictions on maritime transit of vessels in international waters, describing Trump’s plan for a naval blockade of Iran as an illegal action and an instance of maritime piracy.
In comments on Monday, the spokesman stressed that that the Iranian Armed Forces consider defending the country’s legal rights a natural and lawful duty, and on this basis, the exercise of the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic of Iran in its territorial waters is a natural right of the Iranian nation.
The military spokesperson cautioned that if the security of Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is threatened, no port in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman will be safe.
“Accordingly, ensuring security in the territorial waters of the Islamic Republic of Iran will resolutely continue to be carried out by the devoted Armed Forces, and as has been repeatedly declared, enemy-affiliated vessels do not have and will not have the right to cross the Strait of Hormuz, while other vessels, in compliance with the regulations of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, will continue to be permitted passage through the strait,” he said.
“Furthermore, given the continuation of enemy threats against the Iranian nation and the national security of our country even after the end of the war, the Islamic Republic of Iran will firmly implement a permanent mechanism to control the Strait of Hormuz,” the spokesman stated.
He denounced the “criminal American action” to impose restrictions on maritime transit of vessels in international waters as an “illegal measure and an instance of maritime piracy”.
“The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran clearly and decisively declare that security of ports in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman is either for all or for none,” he warned.
His post also included the photo of a map highlighting the gasoline prices at gas stations near the White House, further emphasizing his critique of Trump’s threats.
Trump warned on Sunday that the US Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz and would also interdict every vessel in international waters that had paid a toll to Iran.
But CENTCOM said this would only target ships going to or from Iranian ports. CENTCOM also noted that international vessels not going to or from Iran would have freedom of navigation to transit the strait. The US military said it will begin blockading Iranian ports on Monday at 14:00 GMT.
