Trending 
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed that Tehran must reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, though Beijing has given no public indication that it intends to intervene.
Speaking aboard Air Force One following two days of high-stakes diplomatic talks in Beijing, Trump revealed he is considering whether to lift U.S. sanctions on Chinese oil firms that purchase Iranian crude.
Because China remains the largest buyer of Iran’s oil, Trump noted he isn’t seeking “favours” from Xi, as doing so would require reciprocal concessions from Washington.
While President Xi remained silent on the specific discussions regarding Iran, the Chinese foreign ministry issued a statement criticising the war, labelling it a conflict that should never have occurred and has no logical reason to continue.
The shipping lane, which previously carried 20 per cent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas, was effectively closed by Iran following joint US and Israeli airstrikes on February 28.
This prolonged maritime disruption has triggered the worst oil supply crisis in history, driving crude prices up by 3 per cent to roughly $109 a barrel.
In response to the economic gridlock, Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee, announced that Tehran will soon unveil a specialised maritime traffic mechanism.
According to Azizi, only commercial ships and cooperative nations will be permitted to navigate this designated route, and vessels will be required to pay fees for specialised transit services.
Tehran has maintained a firm stance, refusing to reopen the strait until the United States lifts its newly implemented naval port blockade, which has already forced the redirection of 78 commercial vessels and disabled four others.
The ongoing war has resulted in thousands of casualties across Iran and Lebanon, though a glimmer of diplomatic progress emerged with Israel and Lebanon agreeing to a 45-day ceasefire extension.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been actively mediating back-channel discussions between Washington and Tehran to jump-start stalled peace talks.
The stakes remain high for President Trump, for whom the unresolved conflict has become a significant political liability ahead of the upcoming U.S. congressional elections in November.
Despite Trump’s warnings that military strikes could resume if Iran refuses to negotiate away its nuclear programme, Iranian authorities have accelerated domestic crackdowns, executing 39 individuals accused of espionage and dissent since the outbreak of hostilities.
