China has asked Tehran to rein in the Houthi militias in Yemen following a call to Beijing by Saudi Arabia in the wake of last week’s offensive by the pro-Iranian group, three Iranian sources told Reuters.
Saudi Arabia has sought China’s help after the Houthis rapidly advanced along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb strait, endangering maritime traffic and Saudi oil exports.
China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue, and a return to safe navigation, but in its private message to Iran, it went further. Beijing wants Iran to use its influence over the Houthi to prevent the conflict from escalating in a way that could jeopardize hydrocarbon transports to China.
Iran’s response to the Chinese message was that stability and peace in the region depend on the end of the war initiated by the USA and Israel. The sources mentioned stated that Chinese officials did not resort to threats that they could exert economic pressure on Iran in case it does not use its influence with the Houthi.