Chinese President Xi Jinping said Monday that normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz should be maintained, his first comments on the key waterway a month into its closure by Iran following the…

'Fox & Friends' hosts criticized Chinese president Xi Jinping for urging Saudi Arabia to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, pointing out that China effectively bankrolls the Iranian regime responsible for the blockade.

Citi wrote that global crude inventories are set to reach their lowest levels in eight years by the end of June, even if the conflict were to end this week.

STORY: :: An industry body says disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are driving a jet fuel shortage in Nigeria:: File:: Lagos, Nigeria/ April 20, 2026:: Clement Isong, MEMAN Chief Executive "Worldwide, the product has become less available, and when the supply goes down, the price goes up, and it is priced at international level. So that is the first problem. The second problem is that the price of diesel has also gone up, higher than the price of petrol for instance... the percentage increase in the price of diesel, and the impact in the price of diesel means the transportation cost for carrying everything."Products such as jet fuel and diesel that normally pass through the strategic waterway have become less available worldwide, pushing up prices, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) said.Nigerian airlines over the weekend suspended a planned nationwide shutdown after a government appeal, but warned the pause was temporary ahead of talks scheduled for April 22. The Airline Operators of Nigeria said jet fuel prices have surged 270% since late February, making operations unsustainable.Isong said rising diesel prices have compounded the problem by lifting transportation costs for jet fuel by about 50%, as supplies are trucked from refineries to airports nationwide.Global jet fuel prices have jumped following the Iran war, forcing airlines to raise fares and curb growth. African carriers are particularly exposed, as fuel typically accounts for 30% to 40% of operating costs, compared with a global average of 20% to 25%, according to the African Airlines Association.Isong said discussions with airline operators were ongoing to find temporary solutions while broader supply disruptions persist, adding that strike action was unlikely.Nigeria’s aviation sector consumed about 554,000 U.S. gallons (2.1 million liters) of jet fuel per day last month, regulator data showed. However, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Nigeria’s sole domestic jet fuel producer made no deliveries to the local market in March.

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained broadly halted on Tuesday with only three ships passing the waterway ​in the past 24 hours, shipping data showed.

LONDON, April 21 (Reuters) - Shipping traffic through ⁠the ⁠Strait of Hormuz remained ⁠broadly halted on Tuesday with only three ships passing the waterway in the past 24 hours, shipping data showed. A ‌U.S. blockade of Iranian ports ‌has infuriated Tehran, prompting it to maintain its own ...

The U.S.-Israeli war with Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important oil chokepoint, exposing the Middle East's limited alternatives for exporting its hydrocarbons.

The ships carried skeleton crews and no passengers, the cruise company said.

The US-Israel war on Iran has taught Tehran a valuable lesson - it may not have a nuclear weapon, but it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas shipping route that gives it strategic leverage akin to a nuclear deterrent.

Follow NBC News live coverage of the U.S. seizing an Iranian ship, Trump's blockade and the Strait of Hormuz, peace talks in Pakistan and Israel-Lebanon.

Three vessels — two cargo ships and a fuel tanker — appeared to be attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday as US and Iranian blockades remained in place.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for the restoration of safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz and an “immediate and comprehensive” cease-fire in a phone call Monday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “The Strait of Hormuz should maintain normal passage, as this serves the common inter

Iranian state media released video claiming to show ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. CNN’s Eleni Giokos reports on the recent movement of vessels through the strait.

The US president's comments come amid uncertainty over whether Iran will attend peace talks in Pakistan this week.

Demanding tolls or restricting traffic indefinitely would be self-defeating, argues Ali Amiri, an Iranian businessman

Kuwait has declared force majeure on ​shipments of crude oil ‌and refined products after a blockade of the ​Strait of Hormuz ​prevented some vessels from entering ⁠the Persian Gulf, ​hindering its ability to ​meet certain customer commitments, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing ​a document.

Kuwait declared force majeure on shipments of crude oil and refined products as the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz makes it impossible to meet obligations to customers that can’t bring vessels into the Persian Gulf.

Follow NBC News live coverage of the U.S. seizing an Iranian ship, Trump's blockade and the Strait of Hormuz, peace talks in Pakistan and Israel-Lebanon.

Attack comes hours after US President Donald Trump announced he is sending his team to Islamabad for possible talks.

US-Iran War, Ceasefire, Peace Talks Updates: The war is in its eighth week and has sent oil prices surging because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.