Iran 🇮🇷🆚 the United States 🇺🇸, key dynamics of the US-Iran situation are as follows: $ETH
The ceasefire agreement is about to expire: The temporary ceasefire reached by the US and Iran on April 8 will expire on April 22. Despite various efforts to extend it, as of the 15th, neither side has confirmed an agreement to extend.
The US implements a comprehensive maritime blockade: Starting from 10 AM Eastern Time on April 13, the US has implemented a blockade on all ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, deploying 15 warships and over 10,000 US troops, claiming to have cut off 90% of Iran's maritime trade. Iran claims that 2 ships have successfully breached the blockade.
Negotiations are making slow progress: From April 11 to 12, direct talks between the US and Iran were held in Islamabad, Pakistan, but no agreement was reached. The core differences focus on the Iranian nuclear program (the US demands the abandonment of uranium enrichment) and control over the Strait of Hormuz (Iran insists on sovereign jurisdiction).
Iran's strong countermeasures: Iran has activated its Strait of Hormuz control mechanism, considering suspending shipping to avoid disrupting the negotiation process, and has warned that if the blockade is not lifted, it will block the entire Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. At the same time, Iran is prepared for a 'protracted battle'.
International reactions are strong: Russia has called the US blockade 'criminal and aggressive'; China, Russia, Turkey, and four other countries have been praised by the Iranian president for showing an anti-war stance; UN Secretary-General Guterres welcomed the negotiations and called for adherence to the ceasefire.
Humanitarian and economic pressures are escalating: According to the World Health Organization, the conflict has resulted in nearly 2,400 deaths and over 32,000 injuries in Iran. The blockade has caused a halt in Iranian oil exports, a sharp decline in the rial, and significant pressure on people's livelihoods.
Iran declares it will control the Strait of Hormuz until the end of the war. Trump says it cannot threaten the US #BTC
In the past two days, Iran first announced the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and US President Trump expressed his "gratitude," but then posted that "the maritime blockade against Iran will continue to be effective." Within less than 24 hours, Iran reversed its stance and announced the resumption of control over this global energy transportation route. Trump responded by saying that Iran cannot "threaten" the US. The UK's Maritime Trade Operations office released multiple reports on the 18th, stating that they had received several reports of vessels being attacked near the Strait of Hormuz.
The public relations department of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announced in the evening of the 18th that the previous day, several vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz under the command and coordination of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. However, due to the US violating the ceasefire agreement and not lifting the blockade on Iranian vessels and ports, the Strait of Hormuz will be closed from that evening until the blockade is lifted.
As of April 19, 2026, the multiple rounds of negotiations between Iran and the United States, mediated by Pakistan, remain deadlocked, with core differences focused on the passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the handling of enriched uranium, and the conditions for a comprehensive ceasefire.
Iran has made it clear that it will not transport enriched uranium to the United States and has rejected the proposal put forth by the U.S. that requires “full acceptance,” emphasizing that any agreement must completely end the conflict in the entire region, rather than being a temporary ceasefire. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Khatibzadeh pointed out that the U.S. position of “maximum pressure” is the main reason for the difficulty in advancing negotiations.
Meanwhile, the United States has fully implemented a maritime blockade on Iranian ports, with the U.S. Central Command stating that it will continue to monitor all vessels entering and exiting the Strait of Hormuz, and that “as long as the president orders it to be maintained, it will remain in effect.” Although Iran had announced the temporary reopening of the Strait during the ceasefire with Israel, the U.S. still insists on the blockade, stating that it will remain until the deal with Iran is 100% complete.
The international community widely calls for resolving disputes through diplomatic means. Leaders from multiple countries, including France and the United Kingdom, have convened meetings advocating for a “non-U.S.-led” approach to reopening the Strait. The IMF has also warned that if the conflict escalates, global economic growth could fall below 2%, posing a risk of recession.
Oil safety, maritime routes, and multinational orders—any one of these is a major issue that can affect everything, leaving no room for error. America's allies frequently call for help, while Iran steadily increases pressure, knocking on the door. China understands this better than anyone; the most pressing concern is whether the current international environment can be favorable for its own development. If it rashly gets caught in the political whirlpool between the U.S. and Iran, the hard-won stable development environment could be instantly jeopardized, and the pace of development might slow overnight. Therefore, "promoting peace and encouraging dialogue" is not only China's moral choice but also a practical necessity.
When it comes to restoring investment relations with the United States, China has always emphasized rules and principles. The stance on March 4 was also very clear: investment can be restored, but it must adhere to the principle of "mutual benefit and win-win," and it must not touch China's sovereignty bottom line. As for the U.S. arms sales, China is fully aware that this is an error that the U.S. must correct; there is no basis for any negotiation, let alone using this as a bargaining chip.
China's core interests are non-negotiable bottom lines, a fact that has long been established. Anyone attempting to test the limits of U.S.-China cooperation is destined for failure, as the outcome is already clear: it is a futile endeavor. In the face of the U.S.'s overture, which carries the mindset of "wartime transactions," China remains clear-headed, focusing more on the broader international situation and its long-term development interests.