BEIJING - The US blockade is dangerous and irresponsible, Beijing said on Tuesday in response to a query that the US military began blocking shipping traffic in and out of Iran's ports.

China urges all parties to abide by the ceasefire arrangement, stay on course for dialogue and peace talks, and take practical actions to ease regional tensions and restore normal passage across the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular news briefing.