Saudi Arabia Urged the U.S. to Abandon the Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Return to Talks

Saudi Arabia is urging Washington to abandon the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and resume negotiations with Iran, The Wall Street Journal reports. Officials in Riyadh fear that such a strategy could trigger further escalation and put other strategic maritime routes at risk.

“If Iran truly decides to shut down the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Houthis could become its instrument for doing so,” the newspaper writes.

Against that backdrop, Reuters reports that the Chinese tanker Rich Starry passed through the Strait of Hormuz despite restrictions imposed by the United States. It is the first vessel to have managed to leave the Persian Gulf since the American blockade began.

The vessel is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol loaded at the Port of Hamriyah in the UAE. The tanker's crew consists of Chinese nationals, and the vessel itself had previously been placed on a sanctions list for cooperation with Iran.