China urges Iran to help curb Houthi threat to Red Sea shipping
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| The USNS Robert E. Peary sails through the Red Sea on Feb. 28, 2010. FILE PHOTO. |
DUBAI — September 17, 2026
China has privately asked Iran to use its influence over Yemen's Houthis to help contain the group's recent military activity near the Red Sea, after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing for assistance, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions.
The request reflects growing concern in Beijing over the effect of the conflict on major energy and shipping routes. The Houthis have made rapid advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, increasing risks to Saudi oil exports and commercial shipping, the sources said.
China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation. The private message to Tehran went further by asking Iran to use its influence with the Houthis to help prevent the conflict from spreading along routes important to China's energy supplies.
The Iranian sources did not say how the message was delivered or whether it was conveyed during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi's visit to China on Wednesday. They said Tehran's response was that lasting regional stability depended on ending the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel.
There was no indication that Chinese officials threatened economic measures against Iran if Tehran failed to act, according to the sources. China's Foreign Ministry said Beijing did not want tensions to spread further into Yemen and the Red Sea and argued that increased regional instability was not in the interests of any party.
China also called for respect for the sovereignty and security of all countries and said facilities essential to people's livelihoods should not be targeted. It urged the parties to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations.
Iran's Foreign Ministry and the Saudi government's media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reported discussions.
The issue carries significant economic importance for China. Beijing has been Iran's largest trading partner for more than a decade and remains its main oil buyer. Data cited in the source material shows that Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80% of Iran's seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day.
The Red Sea is particularly important because it connects with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. Any sustained threat to shipping there could add pressure to an energy market already affected by disruption around the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts cited in the reporting said China's interests extend beyond its relationship with Iran. About half of China's oil imports come from the Middle East, while trade between China and the Gulf Cooperation Council states is estimated at around $300 billion a year.
China has previously shown that it can play a diplomatic role between Tehran and Riyadh. In 2023, Beijing helped broker an agreement that restored diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of tension.
However, China's influence over Iran has limits. Critics in Iran have pointed to relatively modest Chinese non-oil trade and investment since the two countries signed a 25-year cooperation agreement in 2021, particularly when compared with China's growing investment commitments in Gulf Arab states.
It remains unclear whether Tehran will respond to Beijing's latest request by taking steps to restrain the Houthis. The Iranian sources said China's interests would be only one factor in Tehran's decision-making, alongside its broader strategic, economic and political priorities.
The situation places China in a difficult position as it seeks to maintain ties with Iran while protecting its access to Middle Eastern energy and keeping major maritime trade routes open.
