Live: Beijing will “protect” its interests in the face of American threats against Iran’s partners

American threats against Iran’s partners: China will “firmly” defend its interests

China has warned that it will “firmly defend” its interests after the US government affirmed its desire to cut off Iran’s economic resources and threatened countries that continued to support Tehran.

“Maximum pressure exerted within the framework of an economic war does not solve the problems. It only fuels tensions and conflicts, causes contagion effects, destabilizes the global economic and financial order, and harms the legitimate rights and interests of other countries,” Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters. “China will take all necessary measures to firmly defend its rights and interests.”

Strait of Hormuz: number of cargo ships at three-month low

Only one cargo ship transited the Strait of Hormuz yesterday, the lowest number since May 7, according to preliminary maritime data from Kpler. A very large LNG carrier entered the strait from the Gulf of Oman, compared to six vessels of all types on Sunday. These figures could change, because some ships had deactivated their transponders during their passage.

Pakistan says it held talks with Iran focused on preventing further escalation

Pakistani Chief of Staff Asim Munir held talks with Iran focused on measures including preventing a further escalation of the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the Pakistani military said in a statement. Asim Munir addressed the issue of regional peace and ways to achieve a negotiated settlement of disputes, the statement added.

Oil tanker hit by “unknown projectile” off the coast of Oman

An oil tanker was hit by an “unknown projectile” which damaged its engine room and rendered it “inoperable” while it was traveling off the coast of Oman, the British maritime agency UKMTO announced overnight from Monday to Tuesday.

“The ship was hit by an unknown projectile which damaged the engine room and rendered the ship inoperable,” the source said, adding that the crew was safe. The incident occurred 9 nautical miles (16.7 km) northeast of the Omani town of Ash Shishah in the Strait of Hormuz. The nationality and direction of movement of this tanker have not been specified.

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