Chinese tanker clears US-Iran tensions in Strait of Hormuz

A Chinese supertanker loaded with approximately two million barrels of Iraqi crude oil successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, following over two months anchored in the Gulf due to the US-Iran conflict, according to data from LSEG and Kpler ship trackers.

The Very Large Crude Carrier Yuan Hua Hu is currently positioned at anchor in the Gulf of Oman, close to a US Navy blockade targeting Iranian ships, as indicated by LSEG tracking information.

This passage occurs ahead of a planned summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping over the coming days, shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi's trip to Beijing last week.

Ship-tracking records confirm this as the third instance of a Chinese oil tanker navigating the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran started on February 28.

Iran strengthens hold on vital strait

Recent developments suggest Iran is bolstering its influence over the strait through agreements with Iraq and Pakistan for transporting oil and liquefied natural gas from the area, sources familiar with the discussions report.

Additional nations are considering comparable arrangements, which might further solidify Tehran's dominance over this critical passage.

The Yuan Hua Hu belongs to and is managed by a Hainan-based subsidiary of COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation, with a charter from Unipec, the trading division of China's state-owned Sinopec.

Representatives from COSCO Shipping Energy Transportation and Sinopec have not yet responded to inquiries for comment.

Tracking data reveals the vessel took on nearly two million barrels of Basrah Medium crude at Iraq's Basrah terminal in early March, remaining in the Gulf until this recent departure. Its destination is Asia.

Two other Chinese-flagged very large crude carriers, Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, made their way out of the Strait of Hormuz on April 11.

In the last 12 hours, a vehicle carrier named Xiang Jiang Kou also transited the strait, activating its AIS transponder with a message identifying it as a 'Chinese vessel and crew,' per analysis from SynMax satellite data and MarineTraffic records. It is operated by a Singapore-registered entity, Xin Yin Chuang Yuan 6 Tianjin.

Trump dismisses need for Chinese aid on Iran

President Trump stated he anticipates no requirement for Chinese assistance to conclude the war with Iran and loosen Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz, comments delivered prior to his arrival in Beijing on Wednesday.

En route from Washington, Trump minimized China's potential involvement in settling the dispute, where both parties have disrupted shipping through a chokepoint that typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments.

'I don't think we need any help with Iran. We'll win it one way or the other, peacefully or otherwise,' he remarked to journalists.

Iranian authorities view their oversight of the strait as a enduring strategic objective, with an army spokesperson noting it could yield revenues double Iran's oil earnings while enhancing diplomatic influence.

'After this war ends, there will be no place for retreat,' the spokesperson declared, as reported by ISNA news agency.

Over a month since a fragile ceasefire began, the positions of the US and Iran on terminating hostilities remain widely divergent.

The US insists on Iran dismantling its nuclear efforts and releasing its hold on the strait, whereas Iran seeks reparations for conflict damages, an end to the American blockade, and cessation of hostilities across fronts including Lebanon, where Israel confronts Iran-supported Hezbollah. Trump has rejected these demands as 'garbage.'