China's envoy calls Iran ceasefire 'urgent,' warns Hormuz on Trump agenda

China's U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong declared the Iran war ceasefire must hold at all costs, calling it an "urgent necessity" and urging both Tehran and Washington to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, The Korea Times reported Friday.

The statement reflects Beijing's alarm over signals that renewed fighting may be imminent, and it places the Strait of Hormuz — a critical global oil shipping lane — at the center of diplomatic talks ahead of President Trump's planned visit to China this month, according to The Korea Times.

Speaking to reporters at the United Nations, Fu placed responsibility for de-escalation squarely on both parties. "The most urgent issue is to keep the ceasefire. And the ceasefire needs to last, and there has to be a good-faith negotiation between the two sides," he said.

On the waterway that carries a substantial portion of the world's oil exports, Fu spelled out Beijing's position without ambiguity. "Iran needs to lift its restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. needs to lift its naval blockade," he said, according to The Korea Times.

Fu tied the unresolved Hormuz standoff directly to the diplomatic calendar, pointing to Trump's anticipated trip to Beijing. "I'm sure if Hormuz is still closed by the time President Trump goes to China, this issue will be high on the agenda of the bilateral talks," he said — a pointed signal about the stakes of the upcoming summit.

The ambassador also appealed to governments around the world to oppose any resumption of hostilities. "I think the international community should be mobilized and raise our voices against the resumption of fighting," Fu said.

Fu pushed back forcefully against allegations of Chinese military support for Iran, calling such claims false. Beijing has faced scrutiny over its relationship with Tehran as the conflict has dragged on, the Korea Times reported.

China holds the month-long presidency of the U.N. Security Council. Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to chair a council session on May 26.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world's most critical oil shipping chokepoints. Any prolonged closure risks widespread disruption to global energy supplies and international commerce.