China says Strait of Hormuz blockade against global interests, urges restraint

April 14, 2026 3oliver

China says Strait of Hormuz blockade against global interests, urges restraint

Reuters

Mon, April 13, 2026 at 11:21 AM UTC

2 min read

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun takes a question from a journalist at a press conference in Beijing, China, January 7, 2025. REUTERS/Florence Lo

BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) – China said a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz would go against the international community’s interests and urged calm and restraint by all ‌sides.

The U.S. military said it will begin a blockade nL6N40V09S of all maritime traffic ‌entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, after the failure of weekend talks in Islamabad aimed at ending the Iran war. Before the war, most Iranian oil exports were shipped L4N40W08K to China, the top global importer of crude.

The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz does not serve the common interests of the international community, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, special envoy of ‌the UAE President for China, in ⁠Beijing on Monday, according to a ministry statement.

Wang said China understood the legitimate security concerns of the Gulf Arab states, and that the fundamental way ⁠to resolve the crisis was a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire achieved through political and diplomatic means.

“China hopes the relevant parties will abide by the temporary ceasefire arrangements, remain committed to resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means, and avoid a resumption of hostilities,” foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a ‌regular press conference on Monday.

China stood ready to “play a positive and constructive role” in resolving the crisis, Guo added, calling the weekend talks in the Pakistani capital a step in a direction conducive to easing tension.

After the marathon talks https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-iran-set-peace-talks-doubts-emerge-over-lebanon-sanctions-2026-04-11/ failed, the U.S. Central Command said its forces would begin a blockade of all maritime traffic with Iranian ports from 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) ‌on Monday.

China and Pakistan had backed peace talks in March while urging an immediate ceasefire nL1N40J0RI in the Iran war and restoration of normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about a fifth of global ‌oil and gas supplies.

Guo rejected reports nL6N40U00J that China had plans to supply weapons to Iran as “groundless smears and malicious associations”.

Last week, Trump threatened immediate tariffs of 50%, with no exemptions, https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-announces-50-tariffs-nations-supplying-iran-with-weapons-2026-04-08/ on imports from countries supplying Iran with military weapons.

“China has consistently taken a prudent ‌and responsible approach to arms exports,” Guo said, adding that its strict controls were in line with domestic laws and international obligations.

(Reporting by Joe Cash and Beijing Newsroom; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Keith Weir)

Bitcoin and ethereum price today, Monday, April 13, 2026: Prices under pressure after U.S.-Iran peace talks fail

Bitcoin opened at $70,741.30 on Monday, while ethereum opened at $2,191.66. Both cryptos were down more than 3% since the prior day’s open.

Yahoo Personal Finance

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq futures hold steady as US-Iran deal discussed

The major gauges held around the baseline as peace talks between Iran and the US were broached.

Yahoo Finance

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq edge higher as Trump says Iran wants to talk, US blockades Hormuz

The major US gauges sank as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz revived worries about inflation and damage to the global economy.

Yahoo Finance

Why $3 gas won’t come back anytime soon, even with a ceasefire in Iran

Expect more pain at the pump in the weeks and months ahead.

Yahoo News

Strait of Hormuz has immediately become the first major flash point of Trump’s ‘fragile’ ceasefire

A two-week ceasefire in Iran began Wednesday in stops and starts, with the Trump administration and Iran at odds about the contours of the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Yahoo Finance

Oil prices plunge, but uncertainty remains as Iran threatens to pull out of ceasefire deal

Oil prices collapsed on Tuesday after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire in the US-Iran war and suggested an off-ramp for the conflict.

Yahoo Finance

Trump gives Iran 48-hour deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz or face new strikes

President Trump warned Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or reach a peace deal — or face new U.S. military strikes on its energy infrastructure.

Yahoo News

Trump declares other countries need to ‘take the lead’ on the Strait of Hormuz in national address

A central question for the global economy came into stark relief this week ahead of a presidential address. Would President Trump really be willing leave Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz?

Yahoo Finance