Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters at a
daily briefing in Beijing on Tuesday that the US action would only “inflame
tensions, escalate the situation and undermine an already fragile ceasefire”, and
that would further jeopardize the safety of navigation in the strait.
“We urge all parties to abide by the ceasefire arrangement,
focus on the broader direction of dialogue and negotiations, take concrete
actions to de-escalate the regional situation and restore normal navigation in
the strait at an early date,” Guo said.
He added that the situation in the region was “at a critical
stage” and said China would continue to work with the international community
to promote peace talks and to strive for peace and stability in the Middle
East.
The US began a naval blockade of Iranian ports on
Monday after its marathon peace talks with Iran in Pakistan to reopen the
Strait of Hormuz failed over the weekend.
The US Central Command on Monday issued a formal notice to
seafarers outlining enforcement measures in waters around the strait, saying
that not all maritime traffic would be halted. The blockade “will not impede
neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian
destinations”, it said.
Iran has warned of retaliation, vowing that “no port in
the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman will be safe”.
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