In the middle of a war with a weakened but still-dangerous enemy, the Chinese government asserts that American blockading of Iranian ports—in part to prevent China’s client state Iran from receiving chemicals and missiles and things from China—is “irresponsible and dangerous“ (BBC, April 14, 2026).
China has called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports “irresponsible and dangerous”.
Beijing’s foreign ministry said the move would “undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement” and further jeopardise the safety of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway Iran effectively closed in response to US-Israeli strikes.
The blockade came into force on Monday, a day after peace talks between the US and Iran broke down in Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump has said the measure is intended to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Analysts say the move is also designed to pressure China—the biggest buyer of Iranian oil—to encourage Tehran to open the strait….
It comes after US Vice-President JD Vance accused Iran of “economic terrorism” over its own blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—having attacked, and threatened to attack, vessels passing through since last month.
“Well, as the president of the United States showed, two can play at that game,” he told Fox News.
“If the Iranians are going to try to engage in economic terrorism, we’re going to abide by the simple principle that no Iranian ships are getting out, either.”
The US has said its military would not impede ships using the strait to go to and from non-Iranian ports.
“Irresponsible”? No. “Dangerous”? To the mullahs, let’s hope so. It’s war. It’s dangerous. Soldiers face danger as best they can, and certainly hope to create danger for the enemy. The U.S. military cannot just sit around idly during the semi-ceasefire while giving the Iranian military maximum opportunity to become more dangerous itself.
However partially abided by on both sides, the ceasefire agreement is meaningless, since the Iranians immediately violated its terms by continuing to threaten ships in the Strait of Hormuz and by continuing to fire on other countries, including noncombatants. The U.S., we must hope, is outpacing Iran in using the soon-to-end pause to refresh and rearm.
