Uptick in Chinese tankers transiting Hormuz amid Trump-Xi summit
President Donald Trump met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched in Iran.
An uptick in Chinese tankers was recorded safely transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, with a cluster reportedly receiving the public green light from the Iranian government to move through the waterway. The increase in crossings came as President Donald Trump met his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Thursday, a meeting closely watched by China’s ally Iran.
What happened: Citing an informed source, Iran’s semiofficial Fars News Agency reported on Thursday that Chinese ships began transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night under Tehran’s “management protocol” to ensure safe passage.
The source said the transits were facilitated “based on the deep relations between the two countries and [their] strategic partnership,” and following efforts by China’s foreign minister and the Chinese ambassador to Iran.
The ship-tracking app MarineTraffic showed that at least four China-linked vessels passed through the strait in the last 24 hours via Iran’s designated “safe” maritime corridor.
