Besent said that the U.S. and China are discussing the establishment of a "Trade Committee" and an "Investment Committee." He also noted that he expects China "to play a role behind the scenes—as long as either side still has influence over Iran’s leadership"—to help reopen the strait. He stated, "China wants the Strait of Hormuz to reopen more than the United States does."

According to Fars News Agency, a semi-official Iranian news outlet citing informed sources on Thursday, Iran agreed at China's request to facilitate passage through the Strait of Hormuz for certain Chinese vessels under the framework of the two countries' strategic partnership. It remains unclear how significant this development will be in practice, as Iran has previously stated that it will allow neutral vessels—particularly those linked to China—to pass through the strait as long as coordination with Iranian military authorities is ensured.

As tensions escalated near the Strait of Hormuz, authorities reported on Thursday that a vessel docked off the coast of the UAE had been seized and taken to Iran, while another cargo ship near Oman sank after being attacked. The perpetrators behind these incidents remain unknown. However, at the time of the events, an Iranian official reiterated Iran’s claim of control over the strait, while another official stated that Iran has the right to seize oil tankers linked to the United States.

Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Central Command responsible for operations in the Middle East, told members of Congress on Thursday that Iran continues to pose a real threat to the Strait of Hormuz. He said: "Despite the U.S. military's dominant presence in the region, Iran's warnings continue to deter commercial vessels. This contradictory situation highlights the greatest challenge facing the White House in resolving the conflict—the fact that Iran can leverage its control over the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip in peace negotiations with the United States." He added that U.S. strikes against Iran have "significantly weakened" Iran's military capabilities, stating, "They can no longer threaten regional partners or the U.S. as they once did." Yet he acknowledged that the Iranian military still poses a threat to neighboring countries. He also refuted earlier reports claiming Iran still retains approximately 70% of its mobile launchers and pre-war missile stockpiles, calling those figures "inaccurate." He said Iran's missile reserves would take years to recover, and its naval forces might require "a generation" to rebuild.

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Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865220612328457/

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