China in talks with Iran to allow safe oil and gas passage through Hormuz, sources say

By Jonathan Saul and Marwa Rashad

LONDON, March 5 (Reuters) - China is in talks with Iran to allow crude oil and Qatari liquefied natural gas vessels safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Israeli war on Tehran intensifies, three diplomatic sources told Reuters.

The war, which entered its sixth day on Thursday, has left the critical shipping passageway all-but shut, with countries around the world cut off from a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.

China, which has friendly relations with Iran and relies heavily on Middle Eastern supplies, is unhappy about the Islamic Republic's move to paralyse shipping through the Strait and is pressing Tehran to allow safe passage for the vessels, according to the sources.

The world's second-largest economy gets about 45% of its oil from the Strait.

Ship tracking data showed a vessel called the Iron Maiden passed through the Strait overnight after changing its signalling to 'China-owner,' but far more sailings will be needed to calm global markets.

Crude oil prices LCOc1 are up more than 15% since the conflict began amid production stoppages as Tehran attacks energy facilities in the Gulf as well as ships crossing the Strait.

Its missiles have also reached as far afield as Cyprus, Azerbaijan and Turkey, destabilising global markets and prompting major economies to warn about inflation risks.

Crude ​tanker transits through the strait fell ​to ⁠four vessels on March 1, the day after hostilities broke out, versus an average of 24 a day ⁠since ​January, Vortexa vessel-tracking data showed.

Around 300 oil tankers remain inside the Strait, according to Vortexa and ship tracker Kpler.

Sugar industry veteran Mike McDougall told Reuters that Middle East sugar executives say there are some ships transiting the Strait at the moment, all of which are either Chinese or Iranian-owned.

Jamal Al-Ghurair, the managing director of Dubai-based Al Khaleej Sugar, told Reuters some ships carrying sugar are currently allowed to pass through the Strait while others are not, without giving further details.

Iran's government said earlier in the week that no vessels belonging to the United States, Israel, European countries or their allies would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, but the statement made no mention of China.