"China is ready to help isolate Iran" — US Vice President
“China is ready to help isolate Iran” — US Vice President
US Vice President JD Vance has stated that China is ready to assist in isolating Iran. According to him, the volume of oil transportation through the Strait of Hormuz has almost returned to pre-war levels, and Iran has lost control over the strategic waterway.
“If we recall the situation three months ago, almost no oil and gas was leaving the strait due to Iranian threats. Now, the indicators have reached the level before the start of the war,” Vance said at a White House briefing.
Vance stated that Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz has practically ended. The US, meanwhile, will not negotiate with Tehran until it stops firing at ships.
The Vice President also said that China is ready to cooperate in efforts aimed at economically isolating Iran. China is the world's largest importer of crude oil and has long been one of the main buyers of Iranian oil. Therefore, Beijing is of key importance in Washington's plans to exert economic pressure on Tehran.
In addition, Vance stated that the US is investigating an alleged strike on a wedding in southern Iran. According to Iranian officials, 4 people, including a child, were killed and 68 others were injured as a result of this attack.
According to reports, the strike was carried out on the night of September 2 on a wedding ceremony taking place in the coastal town of Kuhestak along the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials blamed the US for this, calling the attack a war crime.
“We are investigating this situation,” Vance said, while adding that he is skeptical of the information provided by Tehran.
“Iranian state media has not provided accurate information about what has happened in the conflict so far. Therefore, I view this with skepticism,” he said.
US Central Command did not give a specific response regarding this strike. However, it emphasized that the US military never targets civilians.
The latest events are taking place against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran following the bombings launched by the US and Israel against Iran on February 28. The April ceasefire put an end to the first phase of intense fighting. Nevertheless, sporadic clashes continue in and around the Strait of Hormuz.