New Delhi, May 17: Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s permanent representative to international organizations in Vienna, has expressed support for China’s stance on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. China has consistently advocated for a permanent ceasefire in the region. Ulyanov also warned that the U.S. and Israel may soon resume military operations against Iran.
In a post on the social media platform X, Ulyanov referenced comments made by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, stating, “Russia fully supports this perspective.”
In another post, he noted, “Western experts believe that the U.S. and Israel could initiate military strikes against Iran in the coming days or even hours. If this is true, it indicates that the U.S. and Israel have not learned from their previous strategic mistakes.”
Wang Yi emphasized that China believes the resolution of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz can only be achieved through a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire between Washington and Tehran. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping highlighted in discussions with Donald Trump that problems cannot be solved through force, and dialogue is the only viable path.
These comments come as Bahrain and the U.S. are rallying support for a proposal at the United Nations, which calls for Iran to refrain from attacks and laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Arif stated that Tehran will no longer allow enemy military equipment to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He remarked, “We previously did not exercise our rights over the Strait and allowed military equipment to transit. Later, it was used against us. We will not let that happen again.”
Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned on Friday that Tehran has received signals from Washington about resuming talks. He told media in New Delhi, “We hope that as negotiations progress, we will reach favorable outcomes to ensure the complete security of the Strait of Hormuz.”
However, Araghchi cautioned that Iran does not trust the U.S. He described the Pakistani mediation process as challenging but not entirely unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Trump stated that his patience with Iran is wearing thin. The U.S. President told the media on Friday that during discussions with China’s President Xi Jinping in Beijing, both agreed that Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz. However, when asked if Xi had given a clear assurance to pressure Iran, Trump replied, “I’m not asking for favors, because when you ask for favors, you have to reciprocate.”
On Saturday, Trump intensified his rhetoric, sharing an AI-generated image on Truth Social showing him surrounded by warships in turbulent seas, captioned, “This is the calm before the storm.”
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