China Suddenly Criticises Iran, Condemns Tehran Over Strait of Hormuz Attacks
China’s Foreign Ministry has unexpectedly intensified criticism of attacks targeting commercial vessels amid ongoing Iranian military operations that continue to target ships within and around the Strait of Hormuz. This vital waterway is the passage for roughly one-quarter of global crude oil shipments by sea, which now faces serious threats.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated during a regular press conference on Friday, 13 March 2026, that Beijing has adopted a firm position regarding stability in the Gulf region. This step was taken as tensions escalated in the international shipping lane.
“China disagrees with attacks against Gulf states and condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets,” Guo said without directly naming Iran, according to Newsweek.
This statement marks a rhetorical shift for Beijing towards Tehran, now led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba ascended to power, replacing his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an attack on 28 February amid ongoing nuclear programme negotiations.
China has long been Iran’s principal diplomatic partner and largest crude oil buyer. Beijing previously repeatedly condemned attacks by the United States and Israel that Iranian officials claim have killed more than 1,300 people, including 160 in an attack on a girls’ school in Minab.
However, Beijing is now voicing deep concerns as the conflict expands to include Iranian missile and drone attacks on targets in neighbouring Gulf countries and Tehran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Guo urged all parties to immediately halt escalation to safeguard global energy security.
“All parties must immediately end military operations, prevent the conflict from expanding further, and return to dialogue and negotiations,” Guo told journalists.
Furthermore, Guo emphasised that regional stability can only be achieved if all nations comply with applicable international rules. China has adopted this position to protect its economic interests in the Middle East.
“The fundamental solution is for all to return together to the correct path of complying with international law and basic norms of international relations,” Guo added.
To date, Iran is believed responsible for at least 18 attacks on civilian vessels in the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, according to the Institute for the Study of War. This week, several oil tankers were reported hit by unidentified projectiles and explosive-laden drone boats.
Despite the heating situation, US President Donald Trump downplayed the risk to international shipping. Trump stated that the Iranian military is not as strong as imagined to truly close the world’s trade route.
“The strait is in great condition and Iran does have some missiles, but not that many,” Trump told journalists last Wednesday.
On the other hand, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have issued severe retaliatory threats. They have sworn to completely cripple their opponents’ economies by closing navigation access through the strait.
“We will not allow a single litre of oil to pass through the strait that would benefit the US, Israel, or their allies,” the Iranian Revolutionary Guards stated firmly.
In response to the increasingly complex situation, Evan Feigenbaum, former senior US State Department official from the George W. Bush era, assessed that China is playing a delicate game amongst many competing interests. China is believed unlikely to fully back Iran if it damages other regional relationships.
“Beijing has a diversified portfolio of partners and interests, never puts all its eggs in the Iran basket, and has narrow self-interest in how the region, not just Iran, looks on the other side of this chaos,” Feigenbaum wrote in a post on social media platform X.
Feigenbaum also noted that China’s criticism was deliberately made public yet carries an implicit message for Tehran. China is now acting as a global player protecting its assets across the Middle East.
“This is a public, ecumenical condemnation but specifically refers to Gulf states in plural form, so implicitly includes Iran. They would never blame Iran singularly for condemnation in that manner. The point is, they have interests in the region and what happens regionally, not just Tehran,” Feigenbaum explained.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi offered a defence through his personal social media on Thursday evening. Araghchi criticised US diplomatic failure, which he argued failed to understand the technical and economic substance of the conflict.
“Factual knowledge matters. Case 1: Iran’s proposal to ensure no nuclear weapons was rejected because US counterparts did not understand the technical details. Case 2: Americans will not ‘make money’ from spiking oil prices and tariffs. They enrich corporations and devastate households,” Araghchi wrote.
Until this report was published, traffic flow through the Strait of Hormuz was reported to have sharply contracted due to attack risks and rising insurance premiums. The Trump administration and French President Emmanuel Macron were reportedly considering deploying naval vessels to escort commercial shipping through the strait.