Houthis are advancing near the Red Sea and threatening oil supplies — Reuters
The rapid advance of the Yemeni Houthis along the Red Sea coast has created new risks for oil shipments and international shipping. Saudi Arabia asked China for help, after which Beijing privately appealed to Iran to use its influence on the Houthis.
Over the past week, the Houthis have advanced rapidly along the Red Sea coast. They have also moved closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—one of the world’s key maritime chokepoints. This has heightened the risks for Saudi Arabia. Important oil export routes pass through this area. The strait is also of great importance to international trade, as ships travel through it between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Amid the escalating tensions, Riyadh turned to Beijing for help. According to three Iranian sources cited by Reuters, China subsequently privately asked Tehran to influence the Houthis and try to curb their advance. This was specifically a private appeal. Publicly, China is calling on the parties to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue, and restore safe navigation. Beijing has also stated that it does not want regional tensions to spread to Yemen and the Red Sea.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that a further escalation of the situation is not in the interests of any of the parties. “China does not want to see regional tensions spread further to Yemen and the Red Sea,” the ministry said. Beijing also called for an end to actions that exacerbate the situation and urged the resolution of disputes through dialogue and negotiations.
What China Wants from Iran
According to Reuters sources, Beijing wants Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to help prevent the conflict from escalating further. For China, this issue has not only political but also economic significance. A significant portion of the energy resources on which the Chinese economy depends passes through the Middle East. Any serious disruptions to maritime transport could impact the supply of oil and other goods.
At the same time, according to sources, Chinese officials did not threaten Iran with economic consequences. Nor did Beijing indicate that it was prepared to apply economic pressure if Tehran were unable or unwilling to influence the Houthis. In response, the Iranian side stated that stability in the region depends on an end to the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran. However, Reuters sources could not say whether Tehran would agree to Beijing’s request.
It is also unclear at this time through which channel China conveyed its message. Reuters speculates that this may have occurred during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China on September 16. However, the agency’s sources did not confirm that the conversation took place at that specific time.
Why the Houthis Have Become a Problem for the Oil Market
The Houthis have Iran’s support and have long been one of the key players in regional conflicts. According to Reuters, they receive weapons, training, and funding from Tehran. Over the past week, their advance near the Red Sea has sharply heightened concerns about the safety of shipping. The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is of particular importance. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a vital part of the maritime route between Europe and Asia.
If the situation there deteriorates, ships may need to reroute. This means a longer journey, additional costs, and new risks for oil and other goods shipments. Reuters notes that the threat to the Red Sea has become even more serious amid shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. If serious disruptions occur in both areas simultaneously, this could create significantly greater problems for the global energy market.
China Has Leverage Over Iran
China remains one of Iran’s main economic partners. For over a decade, Beijing has been Tehran’s largest trading partner and the main buyer of Iranian oil. According to Kpler data cited by Reuters, China accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025. On average, this amounted to about 1.4 million barrels per day.
China has also played a key role in diplomacy between Iran and Saudi Arabia. In 2023, it was Beijing that helped the two countries agree to restore diplomatic relations after several years of tension.
However, this does not mean that Iran will automatically comply with China’s request. According to Iranian sources speaking to Reuters, Tehran will take several factors into account—military, political, and economic. “Tehran and Beijing need each other,” said a Western diplomat interviewed by Reuters. According to him, China is interested in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and ensuring the safety of shipping in the Red Sea.
For now, the main question is whether Beijing is prepared to use its economic and political influence over Iran if the situation around the Red Sea continues to escalate. Reuters notes that this could be the ultimate test of China’s real influence over Tehran. Reuters reports this, citing three Iranian sources.
The Houthi group in Yemen is experimenting with new weapons technologies, including components for so-called loitering torpedoes, which could potentially expand its ability to attack maritime targets.
