Beijing pushes Tehran to help stop Houthi attacks following appeal from Saudis, Iranian sources say

What Happened

China privately asked Iran to use its influence with Yemen's Houthis to halt attacks threatening Red Sea shipping, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions. The request followed an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia after what the sources described as rapid Houthi advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which left Saudi oil exports and shipping more exposed. The private Chinese message went beyond public calls for restraint and safe navigation, but the sources did not specify how it was delivered or whether it was raised during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to China on Wednesday. Tehran responded that regional stability depends on ending what it called the US-Israeli war on Iran, and the sources said Chinese officials issued no explicit threats or indication of economic pressure.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The exchange shows Beijing acting as a diplomatic channel between Riyadh and Tehran at a moment when both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea/Bab el-Mandeb route face disruption. China is Iran's largest trading partner and bought more than 80% of Iran's seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day according to Kpler, giving it unique leverage. If Iran does not restrain the Houthis, simultaneous disruption of the Middle East's two main oil export routes could worsen the global energy crisis and open a new front in Iran's confrontation with the United States.

Watch For

Monitor whether Tehran publicly or operationally moves to curb Houthi attacks around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and Red Sea, and whether Beijing attaches economic consequences to its request. Watch for follow-up contacts after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's Wednesday visit to China, further Houthi advances or shipping incidents, and any change in the status of the Strait of Hormuz, which the article describes as already effectively shut.