Iran permitted roughly 30 vessels — including several reportedly linked to China — to pass through the Strait of Hormuz between Thursday night and Friday morning under what Tehran called “Iranian-managed transit protocols,” according to Iranian state-connected media outlets and statements attributed to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The decision marked a partial loosening of Iran’s grip over one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors while also highlighting increasingly close cooperation between Tehran and Beijing as instability in the Middle East continues affecting international energy markets.

Iranian officials said the ship movements took place in “close coordination” with China and under security rules imposed by Tehran after Iran effectively established operational control over the waterway following the outbreak of the regional war earlier this year.

The state-linked Tasnim News Agency described the arrangement as part of the “strategic partnership” between Iran and China, while Iranian military figures stressed that vessels can only pass through the strait with Tehran’s approval.

The Strait of Hormuz, which serves as the narrow maritime link between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman leading into the Arabian Sea, normally carries about 20 percent of the global oil supply.

Since fighting erupted, Iran has repeatedly declared that commercial ships would need authorization from Iranian authorities before entering the corridor.

According to reports, an IRGC commander said ships connected to what Iran defines as “hostile states” are still prohibited from crossing, suggesting Tehran continues using control of the waterway as leverage against the United States and its allies.

The controlled reopening has also fueled renewed attention on allegations that Iran may be financially benefiting from the restricted shipping system.

Earlier reports suggested Tehran could be charging up to $2 million per vessel in exchange for secure passage through the strait, although Iranian officials have not publicly acknowledged any such payment structure.

The developments have also intensified criticism of Washington’s inability to fully restore unrestricted maritime traffic through the strategic corridor despite repeated U.S. military deployments and international demands for open navigation.

The United States Navy has continued operating with an elevated presence in the region, but Iran’s practical authority over transit approvals has largely remained in place.

Analysts say Tehran’s ability to impose operational control over one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints amounts to a major strategic gain for the Iranian regime.

The issue reportedly surfaced during discussions this week in Beijing between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where reopening the strait became a central subject of conversation.

According to the White House, both leaders agreed that the shipping lane must remain accessible for global energy transport. Trump later said Xi offered China’s help in restoring regional stability and reopening commercial maritime routes.

After the meeting, Trump said Xi assured him Beijing would not supply Iran with military hardware.

“He said he’s not going to give military equipment … he said that strongly,” Trump told Fox News. Trump added that Xi also told him, “If I can be of any help whatsoever, I would like to help.”

At the same time, the broader ceasefire across the region remains highly unstable.

The United States has been working to preserve a temporary truce between Israel and Lebanon before it is scheduled to expire Sunday.

Israeli and Lebanese representatives met this week in Washington in an attempt to prevent the conflict from widening further, even as clashes along the border continued.

Israel said Thursday that it carried out strikes against more than 65 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for launching a drone attack against Israeli troops in northern Israel.

The ongoing fighting has increased fears that the ceasefire could completely unravel, potentially causing even greater regional instability and further complicating efforts to restore normal shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz.

{Matzav.com}