New Delhi, Apr 16: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi to help restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that while Iran’s sovereignty must be respected, the safety and freedom of maritime passage should also be guaranteed, reports the BBC.
Wang added that there is “unanimous interest” in reopening the key shipping route and said Beijing supports maintaining the ceasefire and resuming negotiations.
According to BBC, diplomatic activity around the conflict remains intense. US President Donald Trump said the world should expect an “amazing two days” and indicated a deal to end the war with Iran is preferable, while also announcing that Lebanese and Israeli leaders are set to hold rare talks aimed at easing tensions. The White House, however, denied reports that Washington had requested an extension of the current two-week ceasefire with Iran, though it described ongoing discussions with Tehran as “productive”.
BBC reported that Pakistan has stepped up mediation efforts, with its army chief Asim Munir holding high-level talks in Tehran. A Pakistani delegation has also arrived in Iran for further discussions, with officials expressing optimism that negotiations could resume soon and potentially lead to a breakthrough on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, the US-enforced blockade on vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports remains fully in place, with no ships reported to have passed through since it was implemented. BBC Verify noted unusual maritime activity in the region, including ships switching off tracking systems or attempting to conceal their locations. On the ground, fighting continues between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
