Iran Blocks Two Chinese Ships From Hormuz in Rare Move

Iran is running out of friends?

Iran Blocks Two Chinese Ships From Hormuz in Rare Move

Israel says its latest strikes targeted Iran’s weapons, while Pentagon considers deploying 10,000 more ground troops

Iran turned back two China-owned container vessels from the Strait of Hormuz, an unusual move by Tehran as it focuses its shipping blockade on countries it deems supporters of Israel and the U.S.

More from Claude AI (&CNBC)

Two ultra-large container vessels owned by China Ocean Shipping Company (COSCO) attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz but were turned back by Iran. CNBC

This is a significant and somewhat surprising development. Back on March 4, Iran had indicated it would allow only Chinese vessels to pass through the strait, citing China's supportive stance. Wikipedia The COSCO incident suggests Iran is now blocking even its closest ally's commercial shipping.

Oil markets reacted immediately — Brent crude rose roughly 2.8% to $111/barrel and WTI advanced about 2.7% to $97/barrel on the news, as it signals Iran is still actively blocking traffic through the strait. CNBC

Meanwhile, there's an interesting contrast: Trump told his Cabinet this week that Iran had allowed 10 oil tankers through as a "present" to the U.S., with Iran reportedly saying they were letting ships through to demonstrate good faith, and then adding two more after an apology for something said. CNBC So Iran appears to be selectively managing transit — letting some traffic through under its "toll booth" system while blocking others, including apparently now some Chinese vessels.

The broader picture: Iran's IRGC has imposed a vetting scheme requiring ship operators to submit vessel documentation, IMO numbers, cargo details, crew names, and final destination to intermediaries before transit is approved. Al Jazeera The COSCO ships may have been turned back for not going through that process, or it may reflect some shift in China-Iran relations. Worth watching closely.