China asked Iran to influence the Houthis — Jerusalem Post
China privately asked Iran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthis to prevent the conflict from spreading further to energy routes. Beijing approached Tehran after Saudi Arabia asked China for help, reports The Jerusalem Post, which published a Reuters report citing three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions.
Riyadh’s appeal
According to the sources, Riyadh approached Beijing after the Houthis’ rapid advance along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait over the previous week. These actions, the interlocutors assessed, made Saudi oil exports and shipping more vulnerable.
China publicly called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation. At the same time, sources said Beijing’s private message to Tehran went beyond its public statements. Details of how this appeal was conveyed have not been disclosed. It is also unknown whether it was delivered during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China on Wednesday.
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China’s and Iran’s positions
In response, Tehran, according to Iranian sources, said that stability and peace in the region depend on ending the US and Israeli war against Iran. The interlocutors also said that Chinese officials did not make direct threats or mention possible economic pressure on Iran if it did not use its influence over the Houthis.
In response to a Reuters inquiry, China’s Foreign Ministry said that Beijing does not want regional tensions to spread further to Yemen and the Red Sea and calls for problems to be resolved through dialogue and negotiations. Iran’s Foreign Ministry and the Saudi government’s media office did not provide Reuters with immediate comments.
China has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than 10 years and the main buyer of its oil. In 2025, Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports, or about 1.4 million barrels per day, according to Kpler. According to a Western diplomat, Beijing is interested in restoring shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and ensuring the safety of transport in the Red Sea, but it is unclear whether it is ready to use its leverage over Tehran.
