China Secretly Asked Iran to Restrain Houthis, Sources Tell Reuters

China has privately urged Iran to help rein in the Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to sources who spoke with Reuters. The request highlights Beijing's growing concern over the disruption to Red Sea shipping caused by Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. These attacks, which began in November, have led many shipping companies to reroute their vessels around Africa, increasing costs and transit times. China, heavily reliant on global trade, has seen its own economic interests impacted by the instability. While China has publicly called for an end to the attacks, this is the first indication of direct diplomatic pressure being applied through Iran, a key player in the region and a country with significant influence over the Houthi movement. The sources did not provide details on Iran's response to China's request or specify when the discussions took place. The Houthi movement, based in Yemen, has stated its attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict with Israel.