China Pressures Iran to Curb Yemen's Houthis at Saudi Arabia's Secret Request

China has secretly urged Iran to leverage its influence over Yemen's Houthi rebels to reduce their Red Sea activities, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions, as reported by Reuters. Saudi Arabia reportedly approached Beijing to intervene following a recent escalation by the Houthis along the Red Sea coast and near the Bab al-Mandab Strait. These advances heightened risks to Saudi oil exports and regional maritime traffic, prompting Riyadh's appeal to China.

While China has publicly called for restraint and freedom of navigation, its private message to Tehran was more direct. Beijing pressed Iran to use its sway with the Houthis to prevent the conflict from spreading to vital energy corridors that China relies on. The Iranian sources indicated that Tehran responded by stating regional stability is linked to ending the "American-Israeli war" on Iran.

It remains unclear if China conveyed this message during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's visit to Beijing or if Tehran will take concrete action. China maintains strong economic ties with Iran, being its largest trading partner and a major oil buyer, and previously facilitated the 2023 diplomatic rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. However, the sources noted that Iran's strategic, economic, and political calculations may limit China's influence over Tehran's decisions.