China Presses Iran to Rein In Houthis After Saudi Arabia Seeks Help

China has privately urged Iran to use its influence over Yemen's Houthis to help contain the group's expanding military activity around the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions.

The reported message came after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing for help as Houthi forces made rapid advances along Yemen's Red Sea coast, increasing risks to Saudi oil exports and international shipping.

The development comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut amid the wider US-Iran conflict, leaving another major energy and shipping corridor increasingly vulnerable.

Why Saudi Arabia Turned to China

Riyadh's appeal to Beijing reflects growing concern over the security of regional energy routes.

Houthi gains along Yemen's western coast have brought the group closer to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

The route is particularly important for energy shipments and global trade. With shipping already facing disruption around Hormuz, further instability around Bab el-Mandeb could put additional pressure on oil supplies, freight costs and insurance rates.

Saudi Arabia therefore turned to China, a major economic partner and an important buyer of Middle Eastern energy, for assistance in containing the threat.

China’s Message to Iran

China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and safe navigation in the region.

According to the Iranian sources, however, Beijing's private message to Tehran went further.

Chinese officials reportedly asked Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to prevent the conflict from spreading further across key energy routes.

The sources did not specify when or how the message was delivered. It also remains unclear whether the discussions took place during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi's visit to China this week.

Iran has long maintained close relations with the Houthis, although the precise degree of Tehran's operational control over the group's decisions remains a matter of debate.

Iran Links Regional Stability to Ending the War

According to the Iranian sources, Tehran responded that regional stability and peace depend on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.

That position suggests that Iran may be reluctant to take significant action against its Houthi allies while the broader conflict continues.

The sources also said Chinese officials did not issue explicit threats or indicate that Beijing would impose economic consequences if Tehran failed to act.

That is significant because China is Iran's largest trading partner and its main buyer of Iranian oil, giving Beijing considerable economic ties with Tehran.

Why China Is Concerned About the Houthis

China has a major economic interest in maintaining stable energy supplies from the Middle East.

Roughly half of China's oil imports come from the region, making disruptions to major maritime routes a significant concern for Beijing.

China has also been Iran's largest trading partner for more than a decade. In 2025, China reportedly purchased more than 80% of Iran's seaborne oil exports, equivalent to around 1.4 million barrels per day.

At the same time, China's annual trade with the Gulf Cooperation Council states is estimated at around $300 billion.

This creates a complicated strategic position for Beijing. China maintains strong economic ties with both Iran and the Gulf Arab states, while depending heavily on maritime routes passing through the region.

Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Create a Double Threat

The simultaneous vulnerability of the region's two major maritime corridors is particularly concerning for China.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil and gas shipments, while the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and provides an important route between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.

If disruptions persist at both chokepoints, China could face higher energy costs, longer shipping routes and increased pressure on supply chains.

The situation also gives Beijing a stronger incentive to encourage Tehran and its regional partners to prevent further escalation.

China’s Influence Over Iran Has Limits

Despite its economic relationship with Tehran, China's ability to influence Iranian policy is not unlimited.

Some Iranian voices have argued that Chinese non-oil trade and investment following the 2021 25-year cooperation agreement have been relatively modest compared with China's expanding economic commitments to Gulf Arab states.

Iran also has its own strategic and political priorities.

Tehran's relationship with the Houthis forms part of its broader network of regional partners commonly described as the “Axis of Resistance.” Iran may therefore weigh its regional objectives against China's concerns about shipping and energy security.

Analysts say Beijing could potentially exert greater influence if it attaches meaningful economic or diplomatic consequences to its requests, but there is no indication from the Iranian sources that China has done so in this case.

A Delicate Balancing Act for Beijing

China now faces a difficult balancing act.

It wants stable energy supplies, secure shipping routes and strong economic relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. At the same time, it maintains a deep economic relationship with Iran and has avoided taking a confrontational approach toward Tehran.

The reported appeal to Iran therefore reflects China's broader effort to protect its economic interests without becoming directly involved in the region's conflicts.