China Urges Keeping Iran Ceasefire and Reopening Hormuz Strait

China’s United Nations envoy underscored the urgency of maintaining the current cease‑fire between Iran and its regional rivals. He warned that a closed Strait of Hormuz could become a headline issue when U.S. President Donald Trump visits Beijing later this month.

Key Points

• Pause in Fighting
  The envoy stressed that the pause in hostilities is critical and must be preserved. Recent statements suggesting a temporary cease‑fire were expressed with concern.

• Open Strait of Hormuz
  He urged Iran to lift its restrictions on the waterway and called for the United States to end its naval blockade. A closed passage would “become a key topic” during Trump’s visit.

• Peace as Priority
  Maintaining peace was framed as the top priority. The envoy called for honest dialogue between both sides and appealed to the global community to denounce any return to conflict.

• Trump’s Visit
  The envoy noted that if the Strait remains closed by the time of Trump’s trip, the issue would dominate their discussions.

• No Military Cooperation
  He denied reports of military cooperation between China and Iran.

Context

• UN Security Council Leadership
  China is chairing the UN Security Council for a month. Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to lead a meeting on May 26.

• U.S. Response
  The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to questions about a potential meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.