30 Chinese Vessels Reportedly Pass Through Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Maritime Tensions
Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported that the movement began on Wednesday night under Iranian naval coordination procedures. It quoted an IRGC Navy official as confirming that dozens of vessels had passed through the strait within hours, noting that multiple countries are now operating along Iran-designated maritime routes.
The Strait of Hormuz continues to be one of the world’s most sensitive oil transit corridors, with competing claims over security and navigation rights.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the waterway remains open to commercial shipping, provided vessels coordinate with Iranian naval authorities during passage. He maintained that Iran has not blocked maritime traffic, while blaming the United States for restrictions affecting free movement in the area.
Tensions escalated after Iran tightened controls over the strait in late February, restricting access to vessels linked to the United States and Israel following military strikes on Iranian territory.
Reports from the White House indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed on the importance of keeping the strait open to ensure stable global energy flows.
Oil prices reacted mildly to the developments, with Brent crude easing from earlier highs of $107.13 per barrel to around $105.03 per barrel.
The same reports suggest that Xi expressed interest in increasing Chinese purchases of U.S. crude to reduce reliance on the route. However, China has not imported U.S. crude since May 2025 due to trade-related tariffs.
Shipping data also showed that several oil tankers recently passed through the strait with tracking systems turned off, a practice often used in high-risk maritime zones. Among them were large crude carriers transporting millions of barrels of Iraqi oil, underscoring continued volatility in the region’s energy transit routes.
