China presses Iran to help rein in Houthis
DUBAI: China has privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen’s Houthis after an appeal to Beijing by Saudi Arabia following the Iran-backed group’s military blitz in the past week, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. Riyadh turned to China for help after the Houthis made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, moves that have left…
China has privately urged Tehran to assist in curbing the activities of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, following Saudi Arabia's appeal, according to Iranian sources. The Houthi group, backed by Iran, has recently launched a military campaign along the Red Sea coast and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, exposing Saudi oil exports and maritime shipping to greater risks.
China has publicly advocated for restraint, dialogue, and the restoration of safe navigation, but its private message to Iran suggests a more urgent demand. Beijing is concerned that the conflict could extend beyond energy routes critical to China, its second-largest economy, and wants Iran to utilize its influence over the Houthis to prevent the situation from worsening.
Tehran responded that regional stability hinges on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran. The Chinese foreign ministry stated that Beijing is apprehensive about regional tensions spilling over into Yemen and the Red Sea, emphasizing that the sovereignty and security of all nations must be respected, and vital facilities should not be targeted.
Any escalation of the situation would have severe implications for the global energy crisis and Iran's ongoing confrontation with the United States.
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