China calls US blockade of Iranian ports 'dangerous'
Global News Podcast
BBC
4.3 • 8.3K Ratings
🗓️ 14 April 2026
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
China has described the US blockade of Iranian ports as "irresponsible and dangerous". The measure came into force on Monday, after peace talks failed over the weekend. Beijing's foreign ministry said Washington's actions would undermine the current ceasefire and further jeopardise the safety of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump said he ordered the blockade to force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. Analysts say the move is also designed to put pressure on China -- the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. Also: A Chinese court says the founder of collapsed property giant, Evergrande, has pleaded guilty to a series of fraud charges at his trial; a BBC investigation uncovers fresh, wide-ranging evidence that indicates Greek police have, for years, been recruiting migrants to force other migrants back across its river border with Turkey; an unusual way to combat southern Italy's 'brain drain'; and a successful Ugandan conservation project helping Africa's mountain gorillas.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts. |
| 0:05.7 | This is the Global News podcast from the BBC World Service. |
| 0:11.6 | I'm Pete Ross, and at 1,400 hours, GMT, on Tuesday, the 14th of April, these are our main stories. |
| 0:18.9 | China has condemned the US plcade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hermuz |
| 0:22.7 | as dangerous and irresponsible. |
| 0:25.5 | Meanwhile, ship tracking data |
| 0:27.1 | shows at least four Iran-linked vessels |
| 0:29.7 | have crossed the strait since the blockade began on Monday. |
| 0:33.4 | The founder of Evergrand, |
| 0:34.5 | formerly China's biggest property developer, |
| 0:36.9 | is in court on corruption charges. |
| 0:41.3 | Also in this podcast, a BBC investigation uncovers evidence that Greek police are recruiting migrants to force other migrants from border crossings. |
| 0:50.0 | A woman films herself in front of a group of migrants huddled under a tree, but later, masked men are running down a track towards them. |
| 0:59.9 | And a good news story for some of Africa's endangered mountain guerrillas. |
| 1:09.6 | We begin with the impact of the continuing blockades in the Strait of Hormuz. |
| 1:14.4 | As calls grow for Iran to reopen the strait, there has also been widespread criticism of the decision |
| 1:20.1 | by the US to blockade Iran's Gulfport in Oman and the Indian Ocean. |
| 1:25.1 | The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Gua Jia Kuhn called the action dangerous and irresponsible |
| 1:29.8 | and said it would only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement. |
| 1:38.5 | China believes that only by achieving a comprehensive ceasefire and end of hostilities can conditions be fundamentally created to ease the situations in the strait. |
| 1:48.9 | We urge all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement, focus on the overall direction of dialogue and negotiations, |
| 1:57.1 | take concrete actions to promote de-escalation and restore normal navigation in the strait as soon as possible. |
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