BEIJING: China urged the US and Iran to avoid returning to war after Washington moved to reimpose a blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said Tuesday that China was deeply concerned over renewed military conflict in the Gulf region.
Lin urged the parties to remain calm, exercise restraint, and protect what he called the hard-won ceasefire. He said the United States and Iran should prevent the fighting from spreading and harming more civilians.
Lin also called for respect for the lawful rights and interests of coastal countries around the Strait of Hormuz. He said the international community wanted an early return to normal and safe passage through the waterway.
The comments followed a US order to reinstate a naval blockade on Iran in the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command said it completed the latest wave of strikes against Iran at 10:15pm ET on July 13.
President Donald Trump had ordered the blockade to resume at 4pm ET on Tuesday. Trump also floated a 20% toll charge for ships using the critical energy waterway.
China said it was ready to continue efforts to de-escalate and stabilise the Middle East and Gulf region. The International Maritime Organisation Council condemned attacks on civilian commercial vessels near the strait.
Read: Trump Says US-Iran Deal Possible Despite Fresh Strikes
The IMO said it had recorded 53 confirmed maritime incidents in the region and 14 seafarer deaths as of Monday.
Around 20 million barrels of oil per day passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2024, equal to about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption.
