China Condemns US Seizure of Iranian Cargo Ship
Beijing (ANTARA) - China’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the United States’ action in seizing an Iranian cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz, which has the potential to trigger further tensions in the Middle East.
“The situation in the Strait of Hormuz is currently very fragile and complex. We are concerned about the US’s forcible boarding action against the ship,” said Spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry Guo Jiakun during a press conference in Beijing on Monday (20/4).
US President Trump, on Sunday (19/4), stated that Iran had forcibly seized a Touska-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman that was attempting to evade the US Navy blockade, disabling its navigation system and boarding it with armed commando forces.
“We hope that the relevant parties can responsibly respect the ceasefire agreement, avoid actions that worsen disputes and heighten tensions, and create the necessary conditions for restoring smooth shipping traffic through the Strait,” added Guo Jiakun.
Ensuring unimpeded shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is a common interest for countries in the region as well as the international community, said Guo Jiakun.
“The regional situation is currently at a critical stage, determining whether the ongoing conflict can be ended or not. After the window of opportunity for peace opens, conducive conditions need to be created to end the conflict as soon as possible,” stated Guo Jiakun.
According to Guo Jiakun, China supports the relevant parties in maintaining the ceasefire momentum and negotiations, acting in accordance with the spirit of President Xi Jinping’s four-point proposal, continuing to push for de-escalation, and playing a constructive role in achieving lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.
“We hope that all parties can work together to prevent the situation from deteriorating further. We are also ready to work with the international community to continue making due contributions to achieving de-escalation,” added Guo Jiakun.
The Iran-US and Israel conflict has yet to subside, with US President Donald Trump threatening to drop “many bombs” if the ceasefire with Iran ends.
“Many bombs will start exploding,” Trump told PBS News on Monday (20/4), when asked about the possibility.
On Sunday (19/4), Trump said a US delegation was heading to Islamabad, Pakistan, for the second round of negotiations with Iran following the failure of the first round of talks on 11-12 April.
However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday (19/4) that Iran has no plans to hold a new round of talks with the US.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not accept any deadlines or ultimatums in pursuing its national interests,” said Baqaei.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a phone conversation with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar, also stated that the latest US threats against Iranian ports, coastlines, and ships, accompanied by demands he deemed contradictory and unreasonable, indicate that Washington is not serious about diplomacy.
On 28 February, the US and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by attacking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East in self-defence.
On 7 April, Washington and Tehran announced a two-week ceasefire until 22 April 2026.
Following the failure of the first negotiations on 12 April in Islamabad, Trump ordered the US Navy to blockade Iranian ports to force Tehran back to the negotiating table.
Thus, on 13 April, the US Navy began closing all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on both sides of the Strait of Hormuz, which accounts for about 20% of global oil, petroleum products, and LNG supplies.