BEIJING, April 15, 2026 – China has issued a direct warning that it will take 'resolute countermeasures' if the United States uses its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as a pretext to impose additional tariffs, condemning the U.S. military action as dangerously escalating an already fragile geopolitical ceasefire. The blockade, which commenced at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday, threatens to trigger a significant correction in global energy markets and destabilize the financial sector's digital asset valuations, with analysts warning of potential double-digit portfolio impacts for exposed investors.

China’s Guo Jiakun is telling all sides to immediately stop the war and reopen traffic

China’s president Xi Jinping has backed Tehran for years and buys more Iranian crude than anyone else. If Iranian oil cannot get through, China loses a major supply line, and the shock does not stop there.

At a press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the only real way to calm the waterway was a full ceasefire. He also pushed back hard on claims that China had sent weapons to Iran, calling those reports “completely made up,” adding that: “China believes that only by achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and ending the war can we fundamentally create conditions for easing the situation in the strait.”

Guo then said, “China urges all parties to abide by the ceasefire arrangements, focus on the general direction of dialogue and peace talks, take practical actions to promote the easing of the regional situation, and restore normal traffic in the strait as soon as possible.”

Ships cross the Strait as peace talks with the US wobble and Tehran counts the damage

Even with the U.S. naval action underway, BBC Verify said ship-tracking data showed four Iran-linked vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz after the blockade began. Data reviewed from MarineTraffic showed that two of those ships had called at Iranian ports.

One was the bulk carrier Christianna, which went through the strait on Monday after the blockade was already in place. Tracking data showed it had called at Bandar Imam Khomeini in Iran.

Another vessel, Rich Starry, which is under U.S. sanctions tied to Iran trade, sailed east from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates through the Strait overnight.

A third ship, the tanker Murlikishan, is also sanctioned by the United States over Iran-related trade. It left Lanshan, China, and headed west overnight. MarineTraffic showed its last reported position east of Qeshm Island, off the coast of Iran. The fourth vessel, Elpis, also under U.S. sanctions, passed through heading east after departing the Iranian port of Bushehr. Its destination was not known.

There is one big complication with all of that data. Some ships may have been using “spoofing,” meaning they sent false location signals to hide where they really were, which also means some port calls may have been disguised, so it is not always possible to tell where cargo was loaded or unloaded.

Even so, the overall picture is ugly. Crossings through the strait are now only a small slice of normal traffic. Before the war, the waterway handled an average of 138 ships a day.

On the diplomacy side, Iran’s state news agency IRNA said messages had passed between Tehran and Pakistan, which has been serving as a mediator, but there was “no information” about any deal for new talks with the United States.

Citing a diplomatic source, IRNA said the messages were about “current developments” after weekend talks with Washington fell apart. Earlier, Reuters reported that U.S. and Iranian negotiating teams could head back to Islamabad this week to restart talks aimed at ending the war.

At the same time, Iran is putting a number on the cost of the conflict. Tasnim media outlet reported that Tehran is assessing damage so it can press for reparations in negotiations. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani told Russian media that a “preliminary” estimate put the damage at about $270 billion, or £189 billion, so far.

She said that figure could still change as officials continue to count losses, including damaged buildings and income lost when industries shut down. Mohajerani also said reparations were among the issues raised in talks with the United States over the weekend, according to comments carried by IRNA.

If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.