Strait of Hormuz, breaking news! Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Three Chinese ships have transited through the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz brings new reports!

On March 31, the spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mao Ning, said that recently three Chinese vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz.

Also on the same day, the spokesperson for the Central Command of Iran’s Armed Forces, Ebrahim Zolfagharri, said that the United States and Israel are fantasizing about controlling the Strait of Hormuz, and that wish will never be realized.

Meanwhile, citing a U.S. media report on the 30th, Xinhua News Agency said that some Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, hope the United States will continue its war against Iran. Among them, the UAE is “actively pushing” for U.S. forces to launch a ground war, and Kuwait and Bahrain also hold a supportive stance.

Melissa Otto, research director at S&P Global Visible Alpha, said that against the backdrop of heightened tensions in Iran, the $635 billion AI investment plans of major technology companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet will face tests from energy disruptions.

Let’s look at the detailed report!

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Three Chinese vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz

According to CCTV News, on March 31, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked about China’s ships transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.

Mao Ning said that recently three Chinese vessels transited through the Strait of Hormuz, and China thanks the relevant parties for the assistance provided. The Strait of Hormuz and the waters nearby are important international routes for cargo and energy trade. China calls for an immediate ceasefire and stopping hostilities, and for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf region as soon as possible.

Mao Ning also said that world cultural heritage is a precious asset of all humanity. China is deeply pained that Iran’s cultural relics and historic sites have been damaged during the war. China urges all parties to the conflict—especially the United States and Israel—to immediately and comprehensively stop military actions, start dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and end this war that should not have happened at the earliest opportunity.

Also, according to Xinhua News Agency, regarding the fact that U.S.-Israel military actions recently attacked Iran’s heavy water plant, Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference on the 31st that armed attacks target peaceful nuclear facilities that are subject to safeguards supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which violates the purposes of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the IAEA Statute. This seriously undermines the authority of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, weakens efforts to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation system, and may bring serious consequences to regional peace, security, and stability.

Mao Ning said China firmly opposes this. China advocates resolving the Iran nuclear issue peacefully through political and diplomatic means, calls on all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint, and to avoid further escalation of tensions.

Iran: The attempt by the U.S. and Israel to control the Strait of Hormuz will never be realized

According to CCTV News, on March 31 local time, Ebrahim Zolfagharri, spokesperson for the Central Command of Iran’s Armed Forces, said that the United States and Israel’s strategic misjudgment regarding the situation in Iran is pushing it toward destruction. Any attempt to control the Strait of Hormuz will turn to dust.

The spokesperson said that miscalculations by the leaders of the United States and Israel have led them to try to assess Iran’s strength using material yardsticks. He emphasized that this miscalculation prevented them from foreseeing the strong resistance demonstrated by the Iranian public and the armed forces.

The spokesperson said that the U.S. and Israel are trying to force Iran to surrender through a war of propaganda, showcasing so-called advanced weapon systems and equipment, and assassinating Iranian children, women, scientists, and senior commanders. He made it clear that the U.S. and Israel’s fantasy of controlling the Strait of Hormuz will never be realized.

Also, citing a U.S. media report on the 30th, Xinhua News Agency said that some Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, hope the United States will continue its war against Iran. Among them, the UAE is “actively pushing” for U.S. forces to launch a ground war, and Kuwait and Bahrain also hold a supportive stance.

On the same day, the Associated Press, citing anonymous officials from the United States, Gulf countries, and Israel, reported that America’s allies in the Middle East privately complained at the beginning of the war, saying that before the U.S.-Israel launched the attacks, they had not been given sufficient advance notice. But now, some Gulf countries believe this is a “historic opportunity” to substantially weaken Iran’s capabilities. “Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain officials said privately that unless Iran’s leadership undergoes major changes or Iran’s behavior undergoes a dramatic shift, they do not want the U.S. military action to end the war.”

The report said that Gulf states now “widely support” the U.S. military actions, but there are also differences. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are leading the call for increased military pressure on Iran. “The UAE may have become the most hawkish country among the Gulf states, and it is actively pushing U.S. President Trump to order a ground invasion. Kuwait and Bahrain also support this option,” while “Oman and Qatar are inclined toward diplomatic solutions.”

Citing a Gulf state diplomat, the report said Saudi Arabia has told the United States that ending the war now cannot produce a “good deal” that guarantees the security of Iran’s neighboring countries. The report also cited a Saudi official as saying that Saudi Arabia ultimately hopes to see a political solution to the crisis, but the current focus is still on protecting its own people and key infrastructure.

So far, the countries mentioned above have not responded to the report.

Late on the evening of the 30th, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (Ali) Araqzi posted on social media that Iran respects Saudi Arabia and views it as a “brotherly country,” and that Iran’s action objectives are those “hostile aggressors who do not respect Arabs or Iranians and cannot provide any security guarantees.” Araqzi said, “It’s time to drive out the U.S. military forces.”

For a wealth of information and precise insights, find it in the Sina Finance app

Editor: Song Yafang