Iran permits passage of Chinese vessels through Strait of Hormuz

On May 14, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that they have allowed certain Chinese vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz following an agreement on management protocols. The waterway has been effectively blocked by Iran since the outbreak of conflict with the United States and Israel on February 28, a route that normally accounts for one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. While state media reported that over 30 ships might be involved, tracking data confirmed that a Chinese supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil passed through the strait on Wednesday. The move coincides with a visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China, where he held meetings with President Xi Jinping. While U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for Chinese cooperation to resolve the blockade, President Trump stated he did not believe U.S. assistance from China was necessary. U.S. and Chinese officials have previously expressed a shared stance that no country should impose tolls or control over the international waterway. This development follows requests from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese ambassador to Iran for passage, citing the two nations' strategic partnership.