TEHRAN, IRAN — Web Desk: Iran has begun considering allowing a limited number of oil tankers, purchased in Chinese currency, to transit the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by U.S. broadcaster CNN.
The move comes amid heightened tensions after recent attacks on the Iranian island of Kharg, which Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says has intensified its stance toward foreign vessels in the region.
The CNN report states that Tehran is evaluating restricted passage for tankers carrying oil bought with Chinese yuan as part of broader efforts to strengthen ties with Beijing and bypass Western financial pressure. The potential resumption of tanker movements is seen as a critical development for global energy markets, with prolonged closure of the Strait likely to exacerbate shortages in oil and gas supplies worldwide.
Separately, the IRGC warned that U.S. military assets and other foreign targets are considered legitimate objectives following the Kharg Island assault. Officials reiterated that any vessel entering the Strait of Hormuz without prior approval could be targeted.
Global energy analysts have expressed concern that continued instability in the Strait — a key chokepoint for roughly one‑fifth of the world’s crude oil shipments — could push up fuel prices and disrupt international supply chains.
