Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Thursday that a number of Chinese-flagged vessels have been permitted to transit the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that has been largely blockaded by Tehran since US and Israeli attacks on February 28 triggered the current conflict.

Iranian state television reported that "more than 30 ships" had been allowed passage, but did not specify how many were Chinese. The Guard stated that "a number of Chinese ships requested by this country would pass through this area after an agreement on Iran's strait management protocols," adding that the transit began the previous night.

An IRGC commander stressed that vessels linked to "an enemy state" remain blocked, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. The announcement coincided with US President Donald Trump's visit to China, where he allegedly sought to rally Beijing against Tehran.

In an interview with Fox News after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump claimed that Xi promised to help open the Strait of Hormuz and vowed not to arm Iran. Meanwhile, Washington asserts that its blockade of Iranian ports has brought Iran's oil production to a standstill.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that "there have been no loadings in the past three days" at Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, and that "storage is full." Iran's currency has fallen to a record low, and consumer prices have nearly doubled since the conflict began.

Iran denies blocking the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping companies must now coordinate with Iranian authorities and pay high fees to pass through a corridor near the Iranian coast, which international law experts say violates the right of transit passage.

Source: www.dw.com