China reiterates call for 'free, safe' Hormuz passage amid renewed US-Iran hostilities

• Beijing says restoring navigation through strategic waterway serves interests of all sides

 BEIJING: China on Monday reiterated its call for "free" and "safe" passage through the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed military strikes between the United Staates and Iran.

"The Strait of Hormuz is a strait for international navigation. Resuming free and safe passage in the strait at an early date serves interests of all sides," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters in Beijing.

#FMsays China on Monday called for the early restoration of safe and free passage through the Strait of #Hormuz, after #Iran announced its closure amid renewed strikes with the United States. "Restoring safe and free passage through the strait as soon as possible serves the… pic.twitter.com/MEeJ6L9zPr

— China Daily (@ChinaDaily) July 13, 2026

Lin said passage through the strait should be "properly handled".

Beijing's statement came after the US and Iran on Monday claimed renewed retaliatory strikes.

Trump announces US reinstating naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will be reinstating its naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The Hormuz Strait is open, and will remain open, with or without Iran,” he writes on Truth Social.

pic.twitter.com/GFW2bgjCoN

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 13, 2026

“We are reinstating the Iranian blockade, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait,” he adds.

Trump further says the US will be known as “the guardian of the Hormuz Strait” and that “as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20 per cent on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the world”.

“The process and formation will begin immediately,” he concludes.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it targeted US military facilities in Bahrain and radar systems in neighbouring Oman, according to Iran's state broadcaster IRIB.

Earlier, the US military said it "completed a new wave of offensive" strikes against Iran, targeting dozens of military sites in an effort to degrade Iran's ability to continue attacking international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest claims came amid escalating military exchanges between Iran and the US following attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Last month, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their military conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement.

In light of the recent escalation, US President Donald Trump announced that the memorandum of understanding with Iran was "over".

UN shipping agency opposes fees for any strait, more details sought on Trump post on cargo charge

More details are awaited after US President Donald Trump has said in a social media post that Washington is reinstating a naval blockade on Iran and will be reimbursed 20 per cent on all cargo shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reports citing the UN’s shipping agency.

IMO Council reaffirms commitment to protecting vital shipping lanes.

Full story: https://t.co/zKa46ca1Q7 pic.twitter.com/KhzXBRCiMI

— International Maritime Organization (@IMOHQ) July 13, 2026

“We are aware of the post and awaiting more details,” a spokesperson with the UN’s International Maritime Organisation says.

“We have always been consistent on our stance on fees. IMO stands firmly against charging fees for passage through straits used for international navigation. There is no legal basis through which to introduce mandatory tolls simply to transit through a strait.”