Trump Claims China is Pleased with US Permanently Opening Strait of Hormuz
US President Donald Trump has asserted that he has “permanently” reopened the Strait of Hormuz. Trump even claimed that China is “very pleased” with the US efforts in this regard.
In addition, Trump claimed that, in exchange for Washington’s efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Beijing has agreed to no longer send weapons to Tehran. This one-sided claim from Trump has not yet been confirmed by Chinese authorities.
Trump’s statement, delivered via the social media platform Truth Social, as reported by The Hill and Independent.co.uk on Thursday (16/4/2026), has sparked numerous questions about what the US President actually meant by reopening the Strait of Hormuz after he imposed a naval blockade in those waters.
Since the beginning of this week, US military forces deployed to the region have blockaded ships departing from and returning to Iranian ports. Tehran itself has significantly reduced traffic in the Strait of Hormuz during the war against the US and Israel that erupted at the end of February.
“China is very pleased that I have permanently opened the Strait of Hormuz. I did it for them too – and for the world. This situation will never happen again,” Trump stated via Truth Social on Wednesday (15/4) local time.
“They (China) have agreed not to send weapons to Iran,” Trump claimed in his statement.
Trump further claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping will give him a “warm hug” when the two meet in a few weeks, as Trump is scheduled to make a state visit to Beijing.
“President Xi will give me a warm hug when I arrive there in a few weeks. We are working together smartly and very well!!” he said.
“Isn’t that better than going to war??? BUT REMEMBER, we are very good at war if needed – much better than anyone else!!!” Trump added.
Trump’s statement is not entirely clear, with the White House yet to provide further explanation. It is unknown whether Trump has only opened the Strait of Hormuz for China or if he has permitted ships from other countries to pass through.
A senior US administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Hill that the naval blockade imposed by Washington “is fully in effect and successful”.
The US imposed the blockade on Iranian ports in the region since the beginning of this week, in an effort to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to the negotiating table.
The US military has affirmed that the naval blockade has completely halted trade entering and exiting Iran by sea.
“As reported by CENTCOM (US Central Command) yesterday, no ships have successfully passed the blockade, which only affects vessels sailing from and to Iranian ports,” the senior US official emphasised.
“The President has made it clear that he wants the strait open to facilitate free energy flows, and countries are also welcome to purchase oil from the United States,” he added.
There has been no direct response from Chinese authorities regarding Trump’s latest statement.