China Urges Respect for Rights of Nations Around Strait of Hormuz

Beijing (ANTARA) - The Chinese government has stated that the rights and interests of countries around the Strait of Hormuz must be respected so that shipping in the region can return to normal as soon as possible. “Respect for the legitimate rights and interests of the coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz and the immediate restoration of normal and safe navigation in the strait is what the international community wants to see,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday. Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil and gas supplies, continue to escalate. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Sunday (12/7) announced the re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and stated it had attacked United States military bases in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait in retaliation for prior US strikes on several Iranian coastal provinces. The following day, Monday (13/7), US President Donald Trump said his country would continue a maritime blockade against Iran, act as the “guardian” of the Strait of Hormuz, and levy a fee of 20 percent of the cargo value for vessels transiting the shipping lane. Trump also said his administration would re-impose a blockade on Iranian ports. “China is deeply concerned about the renewed military conflict in the Gulf region. China calls on the relevant parties to heed the strong calls for peace and stability from the region and the international community, remain calm, and exercise restraint,” Lin Jian said. He also urged all parties to maintain the hard-won ceasefire, avoid a resurgence of war, and, more importantly, prevent the expansion of fighting and further civilian casualties. “The relevant parties need to move in the same direction and seek an appropriate resolution,” Lin Jian added. Lin Jian said China would continue to act on the four proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping and make every effort to ease tensions and stabilise the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Shortly after Trump’s statement, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated via its X account that its forces would continue the blockade of maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports on Tuesday starting at 16:00 local time. On Tuesday (14/7), CENTCOM stated it had completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets in Bushehr, Chabahar, Jask, Konarak, and Bandar Abbas to further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping. As a result of these developments, the price of Brent crude oil rose by about 3.5 percent to nearly 79 US dollars per barrel, approximately nine percent above pre-conflict levels. The previous blockade was lifted after Pakistan mediated a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran in June 2026. The agreement was scheduled to be followed by a final deal after at least 60 days of negotiations, including on Tehran’s nuclear programme. The International Energy Agency (IEA) stated in a report that the resumption of oil exports from the Gulf region following the initial ceasefire between the United States and Iran last month had boosted global oil supplies. However, the IEA warned that a broader recovery remains dependent on the easing of conflict in the near term.