Trump and Xi Jinping Agree Strait of Hormuz Must Remain Open Amid Iran Shipping Escalation

U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the US-Israel war on Iran with China’s Xi Jinping as negotiations to end the conflict and open the waterway were stalled.

“United States President Donald Trump has discussed the Strait of Hormuz and the US-Israel war on Iran during his meeting with China’s Xi Jinping as negotiations to end the conflict and open the waterway are stalled”

Al Jazeera

The White House said Trump and Xi agreed the Strait of Hormuz “must remain open to support the free flow of energy,” while Xi also made clear China’s opposition to the militarisation of the strait and any effort to charge a toll for its use.

Al Jazeera

The U.S. said on Thursday that it had so far redirected 70 vessels and disabled four others to enforce Trump’s blockade on ships travelling to or from Iranian ports through the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM stating: “As of today, CENTCOM forces have redirected 70 commercial vessels and disabled 4 to ensure compliance.”

In renewed escalation on shipping near the strait, a ship anchored off the United Arab Emirates was seized and taken toward Iran and another was attacked and sank, while the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that “unauthorised personnel” had taken over a vessel anchored off the UAE port of Fujairah and was heading towards Iran.

In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Trump claimed that Xi told him Beijing would not provide military equipment to Iran, saying, “He said he’s not gonna give military equipment. That’s a big statement.”

Trump also said Xi told him China wants the Strait of Hormuz to remain open because Beijing buys large amounts of oil from the region, and he described Xi’s offer as, “I would like to be of help.”

Arab News

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “It’s very much in their interest to get the strait reopened,” and said he believed China would “do what they can” to help open the waterway.

NBC News quoted Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying the Chinese side “are not in favor of militarizing the Straits of Hormuz, and they’re not in favor of a tolling system, and that’s our position,” while Rubio also said Trump and Xi discussed the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

The blockade and disruptions tied to the US-Israeli war on Iran have left the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed for much of the conflict, with Al Jazeera saying Tehran has all but closed the strait and that oil tankers remain unable to pass.

“BEIJING: China’s Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump agreed that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and the Strait of Hormuz should remain open the White House said on Thursday”

Arab News

Bessent told CNBC that “No oil has been loaded at its main export terminal, Kharg Island, in the past three days,” and said the U.S. believes Iran’s storage tanks are full, adding, “None of the ships are getting out, none are coming in, so they're not able to store oil on the water.”

The Straits Times reported that Iran has largely shut the strait to ships apart from its own since the US-Israeli war on Iran began on Feb 28, causing the biggest-ever disruption to global energy supplies, while the White House readout said Trump and Xi agreed the strait must stay open for the free flow of energy.

Even with the Trump-Xi meeting, Al Jazeera said the US and Iran are no closer to agreeing to a peace deal, with Washington wanting Tehran to hand over its enriched uranium and Tehran wanting a lifting of sanctions and its sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz recognised.