China Calls US Blockade a Dangerous and Unaccountable Action

China on Tuesday said the United States' blockade around an Iranian port was a "dangerous and irresponsible" act, after President Donald Trump threatened to sink any ship attempting to leave or dock there.

Trump's blockade, according to analysts, aims to cut off the flow of funds to Iran and pressure Beijing, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, to urge Tehran to open the strait, through which a fifth of global oil passes.

"The US is increasing its military deployment and taking targeted blockade measures, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further endanger the safety of travel through the Strait (Hormuz)," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference, launching Al Arabiya with AFP (14/4).

"This is a dangerous and irresponsible behavior," he added.

President Trump ordered the blockade of ships entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Gulf, after the failure of US-Iranian peace talks in Pakistan over the weekend.

The blockade came into effect at 14:00 GMT Monday, although the United States and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire a few days earlier.

Guo Jiakun further said that China would impose "countermeasures" after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods entering the United States if Beijing provided military assistance to Iran during the war.

"If the US insists on using this as an excuse to impose additional tariffs on China, China will definitely take resolute countermeasures," he said, adding reports about China providing weapons to Iran "are entirely fabricated."

Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, which is vital for what it considers enemy ships, allowing only ships serving countries it considers friendly - such as China - to pass, following the US and Israeli attacks on February 28 that sparked a conflict that spread across the Middle East.

Separately, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday morning urged respect for the sovereignty of countries in the Gulf and the Middle East, saying Beijing would continue to play a "constructive role" in promoting peace talks.

President Xi made the comments during a meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing.