Tehran (Web Desk): Iran is reportedly granting passage to Chinese vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under a special understanding said to be connected with the expanding strategic partnership between Tehran and Beijing.
According to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency, quoting an unnamed “informed source” as saying the arrangement is rooted in the “deep relations” between the two countries, along with what it described as an understanding over Iran’s “management protocols” governing the waterway.
The report surfaced amid continued heightened tensions surrounding the key maritime route, which is considered one of the world’s most critical energy corridors for global oil and gas transport.
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB also stated that roughly 30 vessels had reportedly crossed the strait with Iranian approval since Wednesday evening.
Shipping information cited in reports indicated that multiple tankers associated with China were among those transiting the route, including the crude carrier Yuan Hua Hu, which was tracked moving through the waterway on Wednesday.
Iranian media further noted that these movements are being managed under newly introduced “protocols” set by Iranian authorities for controlling navigation through the strait.
The development is being viewed as another sign of strengthening political and economic ties between Iran and China, at a time when both continue to navigate broader tensions involving the United States and ongoing disruptions in global energy supply chains.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a strategically vital maritime passage, typically responsible for carrying around one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments under normal operating conditions.