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strikeMay 14, 2026

Iran allowing transit of Chinese vessels in Strait of Hormuz, Fars news reports - The Korea Times

Summary

Iran has begun allowing some Chinese vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Iranian management protocols for the waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Thursday, citing an informed source. The Fars report came as U.S. President Donald Trump, who is on a state visit to China, agreed with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping that the Strait of Hormuz must be open for the free flow of energy. The source told Fars news the move followed requests by China’s foreign minister and ambassador to Iran, with Tehran agreeing to facilitate the passage of a number of Chinese ships in line with the two countries’ strategic partnership. Following the start of U.S. and Israeli strikes on 28 February, Iran severely restricted transit in the Strait of Hormuz. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports which started a few days after a ceasefire agreed upon in early April has prolonged the crisis in the waterway, through which one-fifth of global oil and natural gas transit. It was not immediately clear how far the move altered the situation on the ground, given Iran had already indicated during the war that neutral vessels, notably those linked to China, could transit the Strait as long as they coordinated with Iranian armed forces. A Chinese supertanker carrying 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude sailed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, ship tracking data showed, after being stranded in the Gulf for more than two months due to the U.S.-Iran war.

Perspectives

Iranian Official

Iran, exercising its sovereign authority over the Strait of Hormuz, has permitted limited Chinese transits after coordinated protocols to counter US and Israeli aggression that triggered restrictions following strikes on February 28 and a subsequent blockade. This reflects Tehran’s firm resistance to foreign interference while honoring strategic ties with partners like China, rejecting external dictates on the waterway’s management.

Israeli

Iran's post-strike restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, imposed after Israeli and U.S. defensive operations beginning February 28, exposed Tehran's readiness to weaponize a critical chokepoint carrying one-fifth of global energy supplies as part of its broader proxy network strategy against Israel and its allies. Selective facilitation of Chinese vessels, coordinated amid U.S.-China diplomacy, underscores Iran's manipulative use of neutral shipping to sustain its regime while prolonging crises through port blockades and armed force oversight. This dynamic reaffirms the existential necessity of Israel's preemptive measures to counter Iran's expansionist threats.

Neutral

According to Iran's semi-official Fars news agency, citing an informed source, Iran has permitted some Chinese vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz after discussions on management protocols. The agency linked the step to requests from Chinese officials and noted it occurred alongside an agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on keeping the waterway open for energy shipments. Ship tracking data showed a Chinese supertanker carrying Iraqi crude passed through the strait on Wednesday after earlier restrictions tied to U.S. and Israeli strikes that began February 28 and a later U.S. blockade.

Western

Following U.S. and Israeli precision strikes targeting Iranian military threats and subsequent enforcement actions including a U.S. naval blockade, Iran has partially eased restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz to permit limited Chinese vessel transits under coordinated protocols. This adjustment supports the strategic objective of restoring free energy flows, consistent with agreements reached between President Trump and Chinese leadership during their recent summit. A Chinese supertanker carrying Iraqi crude completed passage on Wednesday after months of delay.

Pro-Peace

The US-Israeli strikes launched on February 28 and the subsequent American blockade have turned the Strait of Hormuz into a choke point for one-fifth of global energy supplies, stranding tankers for months and driving up costs that hit civilians worldwide through fuel shortages and economic strain. Iran’s limited easing of passage for Chinese vessels, following requests tied to bilateral ties and a Trump-Xi understanding on keeping the waterway open, shows that diplomatic coordination can reduce these humanitarian burdens far more effectively than prolonged military restrictions. Such blockades, even after the April ceasefire, only deepen civilian suffering without resolving underlying tensions.

Global South

Iran has exercised its sovereign control over the Strait of Hormuz by permitting limited Chinese vessel transits under agreed management protocols, following direct requests from Beijing amid its strategic partnership with Tehran. This partial easing comes after US-Israeli strikes and subsequent port blockades that have extended the crisis, despite a fragile April ceasefire, exposing how external powers continue to dictate terms in critical waterways. The move reflects Global South efforts to counter neo-colonial interference while international bodies fail to uphold equitable access for energy routes vital to developing nations.

Actors involved

IsraelIranChina

Sources

  • ReutersBy Reuters

    Iran has begun allowing some Chinese vessels to transit through the Strait of Hormuz following an understanding over Iranian management protocols for the waterway, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Thursday, citing an informed source. The Fars report came as U.S. Preside…

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