Media: Iran Begins Allowing Some Chinese Ships to Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran (ANTARA) - Several Chinese ships have been able to cross the Strait of Hormuz since Wednesday (13/5) night in accordance with Iran’s management protocols, as reported by Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars on Thursday (14/5), citing sources familiar with the matter. Iran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz starting from 28 February, when the country banned ships owned by or affiliated with Israel and the United States (US) from passing through following a joint Israel-US attack on Iranian territory. Meanwhile, Fars quoted a senior official from the Navy of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who said that 30 ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since Wednesday night local time. The official added that various countries have accepted the route set by Iran to pass through the strait. Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz is open to all commercial ships, provided they cooperate with Iran’s navy to cross the waterway. Iran is not obstructing shipping through the strait, he said, while emphasising that it is the US that has imposed such a blockade. Araghchi expressed hope that the situation can be ended with the lifting of the “illegal” blockade imposed by the US.