Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beijing on Thursday, emphasizing the need to quickly reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has been partially blocked due to the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States.
"China believes that all parties should exercise restraint and work toward the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," Wang said during the meeting. "This is crucial for regional stability and global energy security."
The meeting between Chinese and Iranian diplomats comes at a critical time as Washington and Tehran appear to be edging closer to a temporary agreement to halt their war. Sources familiar with the negotiations say Iran is currently reviewing a new US proposal.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he would pause the "Project Freedom" operation to guide stranded vessels through the Strait but would maintain the blockade of Iranian ports. "We're making progress in the talks," Trump said, "but we're not lifting the pressure until we get a deal."
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important oil transit chokepoints, with about 20% of global oil consumption passing through it daily. Any prolonged closure could have significant impacts on global energy markets.