Iran has allowed some Chinese vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following diplomatic overtures from China’s government, semi-official Iranian news agencies reported overnight.
The reports coincided with a visit to Beijing by Trump, who held talks with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, on Thursday that were expected to focus heavily on the crisis over the strategic waterway.
Duelling Iranian and US attempts to control traffic in the strait have rattled global energy markets over the past few months.
The Trump administration has been pressing China to use its leverage with Iran to help reopen the strait, which is a main shipping route for oil from the Persian Gulf.
Fars and Tasnim, two semi-official Iranian news agencies, said Iran had approved the passage of some Chinese vessels under rules set by Tehran for managing traffic in the waterway.
Fars reports said the move came after diplomatic outreach by China’s foreign minister and its ambassador to Iran.
By
