Iran Eases Strait of Hormuz Passage for China Amid Trump Visit
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Iran has begun allowing some Chinese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Thursday, citing an informed source. The decision follows an agreement on protocols governing Iran’s control over the strategic waterway, the source said.
The report comes as US President Donald Trump, on a visit to China, agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to ensure the free flow of energy.
A source cited by Fars news agency said the move followed requests from China’s foreign minister and its ambassador to Iran. Tehran agreed to facilitate the passage of several Chinese ships as part of the two countries’ strategic partnership.
Iran imposed strict restrictions on transit through the Strait of Hormuz after US and Israeli attacks began on February 28.
Following a ceasefire in early April, the United States imposed a blockade on Iranian ports days later, further prolonging tensions in the waterway. Nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass through the strait.
It was not immediately clear how much the decision would change the situation on the ground. During the conflict, Iran had indicated that neutral vessels, particularly those linked to China, could use the strait if coordinated with Iranian armed forces.
According to vessel tracking data, a Chinese supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday. The ship had been stranded in the Gulf for more than two months due to the US-Iran conflict.
Source: Reuters (adaptive)