Beijing’s foreign ministry denies that China plans to provide weapons and military tech to Iran
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenPhoebe Zhangin ShenzhenPublished: 8:00pm, 13 Apr 2026Updated: 8:03pm, 13 Apr 2026China is pushing a ceasefire in the Iran war as key to the Strait of Hormuz being open to international trade and energy, as US President Donald Trump announced a sweeping naval operation targeting the oil transit chokepoint.Guo Jiakun, a foreign ministry spokesman, said during a daily press briefing on Monday that the strait was an important channel for international trade in goods and energy, and that “maintaining its safety, stability and unimpeded passage serves the common interests of the international community”.
“The root cause of disruptions to navigation through the strait lies in the conflict involving Iran, and the way to resolve this issue is to achieve a ceasefire and end hostilities as soon as possible. All parties should remain calm and exercise restraint,” he told reporters.
“China stands ready to continue playing a positive and constructive role.”
Trump said on Sunday that the US Navy would begin blockading any and all ships trying to enter or leave the strait after 21 hours of talks between the United States and Iran in Pakistan ended without an agreement.
Later in the day, US Central Command said American forces would begin “impartially” implementing the blockade against “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” starting on Monday at 10am Washington time. The measure would apply to all Iranian ports along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
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