China Secretly Pressured Iran to Curb Yemen's Houthis
China has secretly urged Iran to help restrain the Houthi rebels in Yemen, according to three Iranian sources speaking to Reuters. This high-level appeal followed an urgent request from Saudi Arabia, prompted by the Houthis' rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which severely threatened Saudi oil exports.
Beijing wants Tehran to use its influence over the Houthis to prevent the conflict from spreading into vital trade and energy zones that underpin the world's second-largest economy. The sources indicated that Tehran responded by stating that regional peace and stability are contingent on an end to the "American-Israeli war on Iran." Chinese officials did not explicitly threaten economic repercussions if Tehran refused the demand.
The current crisis presents a significant test for China, which has been Iran's largest trading partner for a decade and its primary buyer of oil, accounting for approximately 80% of Tehran's seaborne oil exports in 2025. Analysts note, however, that Beijing's influence over Iran is limited, and it remains unclear how Tehran will respond to China's request, given the complex strategic and economic interests in the region.
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