China is pressing Iran to allow crude oil tankers and Qatari liquefied natural gas cargoes to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz, as the U.S.-Israeli war on Tehran continues to disrupt one of the world’s most important energy corridors. In a Reuters report on the talks, three diplomatic sources said Beijing, which relies heavily on Middle Eastern energy, is unhappy with the near-paralysis of shipping through the strait and is pressing Tehran to make exceptions for vessels tied to Chinese supply needs.
The pressure reflects how exposed China remains to Hormuz. Reuters reported that about 45 percent of China’s oil imports pass through the strait, a chokepoint that normally carries around one-fifth of global oil and seaborne gas supplies. That exposure has made Beijing one of the clearest examples of how this conflict is no longer only a military confrontation, but also a battle over energy access, shipping control and inflation risk.
There have been signs that Iran may be allowing limited, selective passage. Reuters said ship-tracking data showed a vessel called Iron Maiden moving through the strait after changing its signalling to “China-owner,” although far more sailings would be needed to calm markets. The same Reuters report said crude tanker transits through Hormuz fell to just four vessels on March 1, down from an average of 24 a day since January, while about 300 oil tankers remained inside the strait, according to Vortexa and Kpler data cited in the report.
That pattern now appears to be extending beyond China. In a separate Reuters report on India’s passage request, Iran was said to have allowed two Indian-flagged LPG carriers to cross Hormuz in a rare exception, while India continued seeking safe passage for many more vessels stranded west of the strait. That suggests Tehran may be operating a selective access system, allowing some politically acceptable cargoes to move while broader commercial traffic remains heavily constrained.
At the same time, shipping conditions remain highly unstable. A Reuters report on maritime controls in the strait said vessels must coordinate with Iran’s navy to pass through Hormuz, adding another layer of uncertainty for shipowners, insurers and charterers. Earlier, Reuters also reported that the U.S. Navy told the shipping industry that naval escorts through Hormuz were not possible for now, underscoring the limits of external protection in an increasingly militarised shipping lane.
The market impact is already visible. In a Reuters report on Barclays’ revised oil outlook, the bank raised its 2026 Brent forecast to $85 a barrel, citing sharply reduced oil flows through Hormuz and Gulf production shut-ins exceeding 10 million barrels a day. Reuters said Brent futures settled at $103.14 on Friday and that Barclays sees a path to $100 oil if normal shipping through the strait cannot be restored within four to six weeks.
China’s diplomacy may help protect part of its own energy chain, but it does not yet amount to a reopening of Hormuz. For now, the strait remains a corridor where access depends less on normal commercial rules and more on wartime leverage, political alignment and selective exemptions. Until broader transit resumes, the conflict will continue to threaten oil flows, LNG supply, shipping confidence and global price stability.
