China Pressures Iran to Open Strait of Hormuz as Foreign Minister Visits Beijing– www.breitbart.com

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and return to the June memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States when he met with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday.

“We urge all parties to take effective measures to reopen the Strait of Hormuz at an early date,” said Wang, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wang urged Iran and the U.S. to “engage in substantive consultations on issues of mutual concern,” and advised both sides to “exercise restraint.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry insisted Wang’s remarks were consistent with China’s long-standing position on the Strait of Hormuz conflict — with a dash of additional urgency because Iran’s terrorist proxies in Yemen, the Houthis, are now attacking Saudi Arabia and threatening shipping in the Red Sea.

Araghchi claimed Iran still sees the MOU as valid — even though Iran has repeatedly violated it by launching terrorist attacks at civilian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Iran is not interested in continuing the conflict, hopes to return to a diplomatic path toward a settlement and at the same time intends to firmly defend its rights and interests. The Iranian side believes that the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran remains in force,” he said, according to Chinese state media.