Will China arm Iran during its ceasefire with US and Israel?

This handout photo released by the U.S. Central Command April 18 shows AH-64 Apaches flying above the Strait of Hormuz during a patrol April 17. AFP-Yonhap

China has assured the United States that it will not supply weapons to Iran during the current ceasefire in the Middle East conflict, U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday, as Washington stepped up pressure on Tehran to agree to a broader peace deal brokered by Pakistan.

Speaking at a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth said Beijing had conveyed the assurance directly, amid heightened concerns in Washington about external support for Iran during the fragile pause in fighting.

"Trump has a strong and direct relationship with Xi. They communicated on that, and China said that is not going to happen," Hegseth said, referring to reports of a possible Chinese arms shipment to Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on May 14-15.

The Chinese embassy in Washington declined to comment on any communications between Trump and Xi, but said Beijing "always acts prudently and responsibly" in its exports of military equipment.

"China's position on the Iran issue is open and above board," the embassy said. "We uphold an objective and impartial stance, and have made efforts to promote peace talks."

The remarks came as senior U.S. military officials warned that American forces in the region were ready to resume combat operations if negotiations fail.

"The U.S. military remains postured and ready to resume combat operations at literally a moment's notice," said General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, adding that assets were in place to restart large-scale operations should Iran reject a deal.

As part of its pressure campaign, the United States has imposed a sweeping naval blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iran. U.S. Navy ships are intercepting Iranian-flagged vessels and those suspected of providing material support to Tehran, Caine said.

"This includes dark fleet vessels carrying Iranian oil," he added.

Ships attempting to breach the blockade would be warned and could face force if they fail to comply, with enforcement extending to both international waters and Iran's territorial seas, he added.

Caine also indicated the effort could extend beyond the Middle East, pointing to "other areas of responsibility" such as the Indo-Pacific under Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jnr.

So far, 13 vessels have turned back rather than challenge the blockade, according to Caine, who noted that no ships had yet been boarded.

Hegseth struck a mix of warning and conciliation in his remarks, urging Iran to choose what he described as a "prosperous future, a golden bridge" while cautioning against further escalation.

"If Iran chooses poorly, then they will have a blockade and bombs dropping on infrastructure, power and energy," he said.

He also indicated that Washington was closely tracking Iranian military movements, telling Tehran's leadership: "This is not a fair fight, and we know what military assets you are moving and where you are moving them to."

The Trump administration has expressed cautious optimism about the prospects for a negotiated settlement, while warning that economic and military pressure would intensify if Iran remains defiant.

Read the article at SCMP.