US Central Command said on social media on June 18 that, at President Trump's direction, US forces have lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The statement said US forces will no longer impede shipping to Iranian ports in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman; all US blockade operations have ceased, but US naval vessels will remain in the region to ensure the US‑Iran memorandum of understanding is observed, implemented and fully effective.

China stock index futures most-active contracts at the morning close: CSI 300 (IF) +0.55%, SSE 50 (IH) +0.31%, CSI 500 (IC) +0.78%, CSI 1000 (IM) +0.72%.

CHINA STATE PLANNER spokesman Li Chao said authorities will pursue parallel stock-and-flow measures to meet carbon peak and neutrality targets. On stock, a three-year energy-saving and carbon-reduction retrofit campaign will target nine sectors — steel, electrolytic aluminium, cement, flat glass, refining, ethylene, synthetic ammonia, methanol and coal power — to free space for new high-energy, high-emission ("two-high") projects through emissions-equivalent or emissions-reducing replacement. On flow, new projects will be steered to optimize energy mix, expand green direct-supply models, raise non-fossil fuel use and cut carbon intensity. The planner will push local governments to boost investment in zero-carbon parks and zero-carbon transport corridors and accelerate ensuring new clean energy generation covers all incremental electricity demand to cultivate green, low-carbon growth drivers.