China Urges Iran to Reopen Key Waterway Before Summit
China's top diplomat met Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi in Beijing. China asked Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
China also warned Iran not to restart fighting. The meeting happened days before a planned summit between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.
The summit is set for May 14 to 15 in Beijing. A fragile ceasefire signed in April is under strain.
Both sides have accused each other of breaking it. On Tuesday US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had urged China to pressure Iran on the waterway. China's outreach appears designed to address US concerns before the talks.
Klear Note — The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. About one-third of world's oil passes through it daily. Closing it disrupts global energy markets and trade.
Key Terms 3
- Strait of Hormuz A narrow sea passage vital for global oil shipping
- ceasefire An agreement to stop fighting temporarily
- Araghchi Iran's Foreign Minister who met China's top diplomat