China's ships "go as they please," America's ships "pull over to the side" — Iranian Parliament Speaker: Chinese vessels smoothly passed through the Strait of Hormuz
Lately, Iran held state funerals for the late former Supreme Leader Khamenei, and China sent representatives to attend the event.
Recently, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagheri Kalibaf met with Chinese representative He Wei. During this meeting, Iran explicitly stated that it would not allow U.S. interference in affairs related to the Strait of Hormuz, and has already provided facilitation for Chinese vessels passing through the strait.
At present, Iran is undergoing a leadership transition under intense external pressure from the U.S. and Israel. The recent state funeral saw delegations from nearly a hundred countries attending, making every diplomatic move carry strong strategic signaling implications.
Normally, practical issues such as bilateral shipping convenience or strait sovereignty are handled through routine diplomatic talks, not highlighted during solemn, globally watched events like state funerals. But Kalibaf’s decision to hold a separate, high-level meeting with Chinese officials and directly state two crucial points in front of He Wei—first, granting green light for Chinese ships to transit, and second, rejecting U.S. meddling in the strait—was highly significant.
This means Iran publicly placed its special preferential treatment toward China on full display before representatives from around the world, without concealment. Such a strategic signal deliberately conveyed during a state funeral is unprecedented in past Sino-Iranian relations.
Moreover, Kalibaf is not just an ordinary parliament speaker—he is the central coordinator overseeing all Iranian economic, energy, and maritime cooperation with China, and directly interfaces with the new Supreme Leader Mujtaba. His statement reflects a unified stance of Iran’s new leadership, not mere departmental rhetoric meant to placate.
Previously, favorable developments regarding shipping routes were typically announced by Iran’s Foreign Ministry or shipping authorities. This time, however, the top figure in the parliament proactively raised these points during a high-level meeting, effectively embedding them into formal consensus between the two countries’ leadership. This carries long-term enforceability. Even if future U.S.-Iran negotiations encounter turbulence, Iran’s commitment to facilitating Chinese navigation will not be easily withdrawn—its credibility far exceeds typical diplomatic reassurances.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1869943962411016/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.