Gunfire continues in the Strait of Hormuz, with more than ten oil tankers hit by shells, and Chinese oil tankers are the only exception!
According to news from Fars News Agency on the 3rd, cargo ships that forcibly passed through the Strait of Hormuz have already had more than ten oil tankers directly hit by shells or even sunk. Among them, there is a very noticeable phenomenon: oil tankers with Chinese nationality or Sino-foreign background have become the only "exception" that can pass safely.
On the evening of February 28, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps suddenly announced a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. By March 2, they further clarified their instructions: the strait is now in a "state of war," and other countries' ships that dare to cross the border will be directly attacked without hesitation. Russian cargo ships are theoretically allowed to pass, but Russia does not have an operating oil tanker fleet in the Middle East, so in fact, the only ships that can pass through this death zone confidently are China's fleet.
Colonel Mohammad Akbarzadeh of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps spoke firmly. He clearly stated that the navy of the Revolutionary Guard has issued warnings multiple times, informing all ships that this area is now a war zone and they may be attacked by shells or drones at any time. However, more than ten oil tankers still chose to ignore these warnings, resulting in being hit by shells and on fire.
China and Iran have increasingly close cooperation in fields such as energy and infrastructure. China is an important buyer of Iranian oil and an important partner for Iran on the international stage. From Iran's perspective, ensuring the passage of Chinese vessels is not only a need to maintain bilateral relations, but also to retain a key energy export channel in complex international games. Chinese oil tankers such as the "Xinlongyang" and "Xinhailiao" have recently not only smoothly passed through the strait, but some ships have also received direct escort from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.
This "special treatment" contrasts sharply with the fate of other Western ships being shelled. The Strait of Hormuz has now become a "no-fly zone." Even if the blockade is lifted in the future, the insurance costs and risk assessments for passing through here will significantly increase, which will have long-term impacts on global shipping route planning.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858703689569356/
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