China calls for Strait of Hormuz to reopen 'as soon as possible' in Iran talks
China's foreign ministry has called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened 'as soon as possible' during direct talks with Tehran. Beijing warned that disruptions to global energy flows cannot be allowed to drag on for long.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after talks in Tehran that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened 'at full capacity as soon as possible, in the interest of global energy security.' The statement came as Chinese energy companies' crude oil purchases from Iran have fallen sharply since the war began.
Beijing has become the first major power to confirm that the US-Iran peace negotiations are now down to clause-by-clause text review. According to sources familiar with the talks, China is pushing for a quick settlement for both economic and geopolitical reasons, and is leaning on Tehran accordingly.
With roughly 100 Hong Kong-linked vessels still waiting in the Strait, the domestic economic pressure on Beijing is mounting. China's leverage over Tehran as a major oil buyer has emerged as a new factor that may directly influence the pace of the wider US-Iran negotiations now under way.
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