Iran says ‘enemy’ military cargo will no longer transit Hormuz

Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said on Sunday that Tehran would no longer allow “enemy” military hardware to transit through the Strait of Hormuz. According to media reports, he stated that Iran had previously refrained from fully exercising its sovereignty over the strategic waterway and had permitted the passage of military equipment later used against the country. He stressed that such movement would no longer be allowed. Separately, the permanent representative of Russia to international organisations in Vienna voiced support for China’s demand for a lasting ceasefire aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on X, Mikhail Ulyanov said Russia completely agreed with the position put forward by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Russia fully shares such an approach. https://t.co/gNWDcP2YPs — Mikhail Ulyanov (@Amb_Ulyanov) May 16, 2026 Wang stated that Beijing believes resolving tensions in the Strait of Hormuz requires a “permanent and comprehensive ceasefire” between the United States and Iran. He added that Chinese President Xi Jinping had stressed during recent talks with US President Donald Trump that military force cannot resolve disputes and that dialogue remains the only viable solution. The remarks came as Bahrain and the US work to gather support at the United Nations for a resolution calling on Iran to halt attacks and stop laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump links ceasefire to Pakistan request, hints at more action in Iran