Chinese Minister’s Call for Action in Strait of Hormuz
During a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi encouraged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and adhere to the June memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States, as discussed with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
“We urge all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at an early date,” Wang stated, as reported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
He also emphasized the need for Iran and the U.S. to engage in meaningful discussions on shared concerns while advising both sides to exercise restraint.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that Wang’s statements aligned with China’s established stance on the conflict surrounding the Strait of Hormuz. This urgency is heightened by recent attacks from Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen on Saudi Arabia, which have raised concerns regarding shipping in the Red Sea.
Araghchi remarked that Iran still considers the MOU to be valid, despite multiple violations, including attacks on civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Iran is not interested in prolonging conflict. We hope to return to a diplomatic resolution while firmly defending our rights and interests. We believe the MOU between the U.S. and Iran remains effective,” he noted, referencing statements from Chinese state media.
On a related note, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright mentioned that the Strait of Hormuz has essentially reopened under American protection, with oil shipments reaching 18 million barrels per day, approaching levels seen before ongoing conflicts.
These oil flows are navigating through the coastal waters of Oman, which has been hesitant to align with Iran’s initiative for ransom schemes targeting international shipping through the strait.
Wright addressed the recent Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline on Tuesday, an incident that temporarily affected Saudi plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, allowing oil transport via the Red Sea.
Calling the pipeline issue a “brief and temporary interruption,” Wright noted repairs could take several weeks, although he emphasized that Saudi Arabia is currently managing the situation by increasing supertanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz along the Omani coast. Despite ongoing terrorism threats, Iran appears unable to completely halt oil shipments.
Araghchi’s visit came after he did not secure the new agreement he had hoped for during the BRICS summit in New Delhi, possibly influenced by Iran’s recent attacks on several BRICS member nations. The summit’s joint statement notably lacked the denouncement of American and Israeli actions that Araghchi sought.
Additionally, Iran might have overstepped when its Houthi allies reportedly targeted the holy city of Mecca with a drone strike, resulting in swift and strong condemnation from various regional actors, including the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Iran appeared to rely on the Houthis to disrupt Saudi oil infrastructure and elevate global oil prices, which could pressure the U.S. However, this strategy seemed to gain traction over the weekend as Saudi and Yemeni forces retreated amid the Houthi military offensive to seize strategic coastal areas and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The best Araghchi could extract from Wang during their discussions was a vague assurance to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation with Iran” and protect its “legitimate rights and interests.” This diplomatic wording leaves many questions about how Beijing interprets those rights and interests.
Wang’s simultaneous call for secure transit through the Strait of Hormuz suggests that China may not view Iran’s proposed protection scheme in the strait as one of those legitimate interests.
Interestingly, Araghchi’s tone has shifted to be less confrontational than previous Iranian rhetoric, although it contrasts with current actions. He stated, “We desire peace in the region and friendly relations with our neighbors, actively engaging in dialogue with regional countries,” mere days after other regional nations canceled a summit with Iran due to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.
