CHINA PERSPECTIVE

The South China Morning Post analyzes Trump's ambivalent posture: Saturday, the US president said he was reviewing the Iranian plan while maintaining he could not imagine finding it acceptable. Simultaneously, he announced 'Project Freedom' to escort neutral ships out of the Gulf — a move that pressures Iran but also signals Washington wants to reduce maritime tensions without necessarily achieving a comprehensive peace deal.

According to two semi-official Iranian news agencies, Tasnim and Fars, close to the Revolutionary Guards, Iran sent a 14-point plan via Pakistan in response to a US 9-point plan. Trump immediately cast doubt on Truth Social before even claiming to have read it.

China watches this dynamic closely. Beijing is massively dependent on Hormuz for its energy imports and would be the first beneficiary of a strait reopening. But Beijing did not wish to be directly involved in mediation, preferring to leave that role to Pakistan while maintaining its own diplomatic channels with Tehran.