China’s Wang Yi calls on Iran to ensure freedom and safe passage through Strait of Hormuz

In a high-stakes diplomatic move, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi directly appealed to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to ensure the freedom and safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. The phone call, reported by China's foreign ministry, represents Beijing's latest intervention in the escalating conflict, which has seen a US naval blockade of Iranian ports and Tehran's retaliatory closure of the critical waterway. Wang framed the moment as a pivotal juncture, stating, 'The current situation has reached a critical stage of transition between conflict and peace, and a window for peace is opening.' He balanced this by asserting that Iran's sovereignty and security as a coastal state must be respected, while emphasizing that ensuring safe international transit is a 'shared call of the international community.'

This diplomatic push follows failed talks in Islamabad over the weekend, which stalled over Iran's nuclear program and the status of the strait. The US blockade has intensified global energy market disruptions, putting immense pressure on a chokepoint through which about 21 million barrels of oil pass daily. In response, Araghchi indicated Tehran's willingness to seek a 'rational and realistic solution through peaceful negotiations' and explicitly asked Beijing to 'play an active role in promoting peace and ending the conflict.' The exchange highlights China's delicate position: acting as a major diplomatic player advocating for de-escalation and stability, while its own significant energy imports rely on the very corridor now under threat.