China defies Trump: Chinese tanker travels through Strait of Hormuz after Beijing declares US blockade ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ – Live updates

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Updated: 09:14 EDT, 14 April 2026

A Chinese tanker under US sanctions passed though the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, defying Washington’s naval blockade that began on Monday.

After circling the area late on Monday and initially turning back, the 600ft long vessel passed through the waterway on Tuesday.

Oil tanker Rich Starry is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd. and became a target for US sanctions because it was used to transport Iranian crude.

Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker that is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE’s Hamriyah, the data showed.

Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the US navy would block ‘any and all ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz’, adding on Monday that the US would blockade ships ‘entering or exiting Iranian ports’.

Meanwhile, China said on Tuesday that a US blockade around Iranian ports was ‘dangerous and irresponsible’, after the US President threatened to sink any boats that sought to leave or dock there.

‘The US increased military operations and took a targeted blockade action, which will only exacerbate tensions and undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement and further jeopardise safety of passage through the Strait,’ Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference, adding ‘this is dangerous and irresponsible behaviour’.

It comes as Saudi Arabia is pressing the US to drop its blockade of the waterway and return to the negotiating table, fearing Washington’s move to close it off could lead Iran to escalate and disrupt other important shipping routes, the Wall Street Journal reports.

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The IRGC-affiliated Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday that the estimated cost of damages sustained in Iran during the war is around $270bn.

Speaking to Russian media, Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said officials in Iran are basing their assessment on damaged buildings and lost revenue due to industrial shutdowns.

Mohajerani added that reparations were one of the issues raised in the weekend peace talks in Islamabad.

A residential building in Tehran that was damaged after US-Israeli airstrikes

Trucks with aid deliveries to Iran are crossing from Turkey and Jordan after air routes blocked

International humanitarian groups said on Tuesday they had sent emergency relief through overland routes to Iran, some of their first deliveries of aid since US-Israeli strikes began in late February.

Aid workers say needs are high in the wake of six weeks of strikes, but stocks of emergency humanitarian supplies became stuck in Dubai warehouses as shipping and air routes were blocked by the expanding conflict.

Iranian authorities say more than 3,000 people have been killed in Iran during the war and the UN refugee agency says up to 3.2 million have been displaced.

The International Federation of Red ​Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it had delivered some 200 trauma kits as well as tents and blankets on trucks sent along a new route from Turkey.

Separately, the International Committee of the Red Cross said it had made its first shipment to Iran since the conflict began, with five trucks arriving from Jordan on Monday. Another nine are expected later this week.

Two ships from Iran ports pass Hormuz Strait despite US blockade

At least two ships using Iranian ports passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday despite a US military blockade, data from maritime tracking firm Kpler indicated Tuesday.

The Liberia-flagged bulk carrier Christianna transited the strategic strait after unloading corn at the Iranian port of Bandar Imam Khomeini, passing Iran’s Larak Island around 4pm GMT on Monday, Kpler said.

Washington’s blockade came into effect two hours earlier.

A second ship, the Comoros-flagged tanker Elpis, was near Larak Island around 11pm GMT and cleared the strait about 4pm GMT, the data showed.

Russia’s oil export revenue surged to $19 bn in March after sanctions eased

Russia nearly doubled its earnings from oil exports in March as Moscow was granted sanctions relief in a bid to offset soaring energy prices during the war in the Middle East, the International Energy Agency said Tuesday.

The country earned $19 billion last month as crude and oil product exports soared to 7.1 million barrels per day (mb/d) from just 320 thousand barrels a day in February.

The United States eased some restrictions on sales of Russian crude imposed over its war against Ukraine, allowing countries to purchase oil that was already at sea until April 11.

Israel keen to reach ‘peace and normalisation’ with Lebanon

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said his country is seeking ‘peace and normalisation’ with Lebanon, ahead of talks between officials from both nations in Washington on Tuesday.

‘We want to reach peace and normalisation with the state of Lebanon… Israel and Lebanon don’t have any major disputes between them. The problem is Hezbollah,’ Saar said at a press conference with visiting Czech Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka.

The Washington meeting – the first such talks since 1993 – will be mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and include the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to the United States.

Saar said Hezbollah attacked Israel on March 2 ‘against the will of the Lebanese government’.

‘The problem for Israel’s security is the problem for Lebanon’s sovereignty,’ Saar said.

‘It’s Hezbollah, it’s the same problem. And this problem needs to be addressed in order to move to a different phase.’

While Lebanon has called for a ceasefire, Israel has rejected that proposal and continues to insist on the disarmament of Hezbollah.

Macron says he urged Trump and the Iranian president to restart talks

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday he had urged US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian to resume stalled talks towards ending the Iran war.

Writing on X, the French president said:

‘I urged the resumption of the negotiations suspended in Islamabad, the clearing up of misunderstandings, and the avoidance of any further escalation.”It is essential, in particular, that the ceasefire be strictly respected by all parties and that it include Lebanon.”It is equally important that the Strait of Hormuz be reopened unconditionally, without restrictions or tolls, as soon as possible.”Under these conditions, negotiations should be able to resume quickly, with the support of the key parties concerned.’South Korea will provide humanitarian assistance to Iran

South Korea says it provided $2 million in humanitarian assistance to Lebanon through international organizations and has also decided to provide $500,000 in aid to Iran through the International Red Cross.

Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday it hopes the aid will help ease the humanitarian crisis in affected regions

How is Trump’s blockade working?

Donald Trump ordered the US navy to blockade the Strait of Hormuz from Monday as he looks to gain control over the vital passageway.

Washington sent more than 15 warships to the strait on Monday morning, a US official told the Wall Street Journal.

The US is likely to intercept ships in the Arabian sea to stop them entering Iranian ports.

It will target ships here because it will leave them less vulnerable to attacks from Iran’s coast.

Vessels using the strait to travel to and from non-Iranian ports will not be impeded.

Warships will approach any tanker which is suspected of breaking the blockage and specially trained marines and Navy Seals will forcefully board ships if needed.

The US has built up an enormous armoury of weapons in the region, including an aircraft carrier, guided missiles destroyers and multiple warships, which can be used to help the blockade. Most ships can be used to launch helicopters.

If needed, the military could also fly troops directly from land onto the ships.

Rachel Reeves says she is ‘angry’ at Trump’s Iran war ‘folly’

by James Tapsfield

Rachel Reeves said she is ‘angry’ at Donald Trump over the Iran War today as Keir Starmer scrambles for a diplomatic solution to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

The Chancellor branded the US-Israeli attacks on Tehran ‘folly’ saying there had been no ‘clear exit plan’ or aims.

The intervention came as the PM and Emmanuel Macron announced they will be co-hosting a summit in Paris on Friday.

The gathering is intended to make arrangements for opening the crucial waterway – through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passes.

Ms Reeves is heading for Washington for IMF meetings today, where she will discuss the fallout from the Middle East chaos.

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China defies Trump: Chinese tanker travels through Strait of Hormuz after Beijing declares US blockade ‘dangerous and irresponsible’ – Live updates