Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz to Selected Chinese Vessels

Iran has allowed some Chinese ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency, following an agreement on Iranian rules for managing the strategic waterway.

The move coincides with US President Donald Trump's visit to China, where Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping agreed that the strait must remain open for the free flow of energy.

A Fars source said the decision followed requests from China's foreign minister and ambassador to Iran, after which Tehran agreed to facilitate the passage of several Chinese ships in line with the two countries' strategic partnership.

Iran severely restricted transit through the strait after US and Israeli attacks began on 28 February. The situation worsened further following a US blockade of Iranian ports, imposed shortly after an April ceasefire.

The extent to which the new measure changes conditions in the region remains unclear. Iran had already signalled during the conflict that neutral vessels, particularly those linked to China, could use the strait after coordination with Iranian armed forces.

(reuters, bak)