China Asked Iran to Restrain Yemeni Houthis
China privately appealed to Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to restrain their actions. This was reported by Reuters, citing three Iranian sources.
Yemeni Houthi fighter. Photo: AP Photo / Osamah Abdulrahman
According to the agency, Saudi Arabia had previously appealed to China with such a request. Riyadh asked Beijing for help after recent Houthi actions on the Red Sea coast and in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. These created a threat to Saudi oil exports and complicated shipping in the region.
According to Reuters sources, China would like Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to prevent the further spread of the conflict to energy routes, on which China also depends.
At the same time, Beijing reportedly did not directly threaten Iran.
The sources did not specify how the Chinese side conveyed this request to the Iranian authorities. It is also unknown whether this issue was discussed during the visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to Beijing, which took place the day before.