US Republican Senator John Kennedy has claimed that China could help reopen the Strait of Hormuz but has so far chosen not to do so.
Speaking on Fox News, the Louisiana senator said China could use its influence with Iran to help restore access through the strategic waterway. He argued that Washington may eventually have to decide whether to continue addressing the issue itself or allow other countries to take greater responsibility.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a major international concern during the war involving Iran, with disruptions to shipping through the waterway contributing to higher energy prices. China is Iran's largest oil customer and has significant economic ties with Tehran.
Kennedy's comments came as Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump. The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the conflict involving Iran.
Trump later described his meeting with Xi as a “great meeting,” while Chinese officials said Beijing supports dialogue between the United States and Iran. No major breakthrough on reopening the Strait of Hormuz was announced following the talks.
Meanwhile, Xi attended a state dinner at the White House hosted by Trump and first lady Melania Trump. The guest list included several prominent technology and business figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
One notable absence was Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind Claude. The company was not included among the major technology firms represented at the dinner, according to reports.
The dinner highlighted the importance Washington and Beijing continue to place on technology and business ties, even as disagreements remain over AI, trade, Taiwan and Iran.
For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains a key issue in the wider conflict and a significant concern for global energy markets. Kennedy's comments represent his own assessment of China's potential role rather than an announced Chinese commitment to reopen the waterway.