Washington DC [US], September 4 (ANI): US Vice President JD Vance on Thursday (local time) said that China is "willing to play ball" with Washington on efforts to economically isolate Iran, describing Beijing as "much more responsible" than Tehran despite differences between the United States and China.

Speaking during a media briefing at the White House, Vance was asked whether the US-led "Operation Economic Outcast', announced to economically isolate the Islamic Republic, could succeed without China joining efforts to isolate Iran economically.

"First of all, I think the Chinese, the PRC, [are] being willing to play ball here," Vance said, referring to the Chinese government.

He acknowledged that Washington and Beijing continue to have "some policy disagreements" and "misalignment of interests", but said US President Donald Trump maintains a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

"Say what you will about them... they are not the sort of nation that shoots at commercial shipping because they're not getting their way in an international dispute," Vance said, referring to Iran's attacks on commercial shipping.

"They [Chinese] are, in that way, I think, willing to be a little bit more responsible," he added.

Vance, however, clarified that this did not mean China was complying with every request from Washington.

"Again, I'm not saying they're doing everything that we've asked them to do. But I think that the PRC has been much more responsible, certainly than the Iranians, and much more responsible than a couple of other nations as well," he said.

Vance also pointed to cooperation from several other countries, saying nations including Trkiye, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Gulf states were taking steps to help Washington ensure that Iran faces consequences for attacks on commercial shipping.

"A lot of countries, sometimes they're not willing to say so publicly but privately they're doing a lot of good things to help us ensure that the Iranians pay a penalty for firing at commercial shipping," Vance said.