US President Donald Trump claimed on Wednesday, April 15, that he is “permanently opening” the Strait of Hormuz, in a post on his Truth Social platform, without providing details or evidence.
“China is very happy that I am permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz. I am doing it for them, also – and the world,” Trump wrote.
He added that China had agreed not to send weapons to Iran, though he did not provide further information or confirmation of such an arrangement.
Trump also claimed that Chinese President Xi Jinping would “give me a big, fat hug” during a planned visit in the coming weeks.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key global shipping route for oil and gas, and any changes to its status would typically involve multiple regional and international actors.
Trump’s remarks could not be independently verified, and no official statements from China or Iran were immediately available.
On Tuesday, the United Nations warned that a prolonged disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food crisis, driving up prices and cutting supplies of key agricultural inputs.
On April 11, Trump stated that the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz will reopen “fairly soon,” as Washington continues to press Tehran to fulfill its obligations under a two-week ceasefire agreement.
A major flashpoint in the negotiations is Iran’s proposed toll system for ships using the waterway. Tehran has suggested charging fees to fund reconstruction following US-Israeli airstrikes – a move the US and the European have flatly rejected as a violation of the freedom of navigation. Trump warned Iran on Truth Social that they “better stop now” if they are indeed demanding multimillion-dollar tolls.
For weeks, Trump has urged European allies to intervene and help secure the passage. However, NATO members like France have expressed caution, arguing that the alliance was designed for collective defense rather than Middle East intervention, and that security in the strait is impossible without Iran’s cooperation.
The reopening of Hormuz is a central pillar of the talks currently taking place in Pakistan, where US Vice President JD Vance and special envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are expected to meet with Iranian officials.