April 15, 2026 | 12:29 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Chinese government has clarified that it does not supply weapons for war to Iran. They stated that United States President Donald Trump's threat to impose an additional 50 percent tariff on China over these allegations is highly inaccurate.
"China always acts prudently and responsibly on the export of military products, and exercises strict control in accordance with China's laws and regulations on export control and due international obligations. China opposes groundless smear and ill-intentioned association," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.
It was previously reported that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods if it has been proven that they supplied weapons to Iran.
"If the U.S. goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China on the basis of these accusations, China will respond with countermeasures," Guo Jiakun emphasized.
Iran's Military Capability
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran will use new military capabilities if the war with the U.S. and Israel continues, as reported by the Iranian media, Fars.
"We have not yet used our capabilities, and if the war continues, we will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about," said IRGC Spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi.
Meanwhile, Iranian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Reza Talaeinik stated on Monday that the military capabilities of the Iranian armed forces have increased, with missiles, drones, weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment sufficient to continue offensive and defensive operations in the future, as reported by the Iranian news agency IRNA.
Strait of Hormuz Blockade
The blockade in the Strait of Hormuz ordered by President Trump is also considered to worsen the situation and is a dangerous and irresponsible step.
"With the temporary ceasefire agreement still in place, the United States ramped up military deployment and resorted to a targeted blockade. This will only aggravate confrontation, escalate tension, undermine the already fragile ceasefire and further jeopardize safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," said Guo Jiakun.
According to Guo Jiakun, China believes that only a complete ceasefire can fundamentally create conditions to ease the situation.
"We urge relevant parties to honor the ceasefire agreement, stick to the direction of peace talks and take concrete actions to deescalate the situation so that normal traffic via the Strait will be able to resume as soon as possible," Guo Jiakun stated.
The primary priority, said Guo Jiakun, is to prevent a return to battle by all means and maintain the hard-won momentum of the ceasefire.
He added that all parties must adhere to the temporary ceasefire and continue resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels. He emphasized that China will continue to work with the international community to promote peace, encourage negotiations, and restore stability to the Middle East as soon as possible.
The U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran since February 28, 2026, have sparked a surge in world oil prices due to Tehran's blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
In addition to the surge in world oil prices, the war has also resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people and damage to Iranian facilities estimated at US$270 billion (around Rp4.6 quadrillion).
Then, on April 8, 2026, the U.S. and Iran reached a two-week temporary ceasefire, accompanied by peaceful negotiations in Islamabad on April 10, 2026.
However, the negotiations failed to reach an agreement, with the issue of the Strait of Hormuz being one of the main points of contention.
On Sunday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that it would start blockading the maritime route on Monday at 14:00 local time to carry out Trump's orders.
The Strait of Hormuz is a route for about 20 percent of the world's oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies.
Read: More Than 20 Ships Pass Strait of Hormuz Amid US Blockade
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