China has privately asked Iran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthi movement to help contain the group’s recent military activity, following an appeal from Saudi Arabia for Beijing’s assistance.
Three Iranian sources familiar with the discussions said Riyadh approached China after Houthi forces made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The developments have increased concerns over the security of Saudi oil exports and commercial shipping.
China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of safe navigation in the region. According to the sources, however, Beijing’s private message to Tehran went further, urging Iran to help prevent the conflict from spreading to key energy routes.
It remains unclear how the request was delivered or whether it was raised during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Beijing on Sept 16, where he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The Iranian sources said Tehran’s response was that regional stability depended on ending what Iran describes as the US-Israeli war against it.
Chinese officials did not threaten economic measures against Iran if Tehran failed to act. In a response to questions about the discussions, China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing did not want regional tensions to spread further into Yemen and the Red Sea, adding that escalating instability was not in the interests of any party.
China has significant economic interests in maintaining stability across the Middle East. It has been Iran’s largest trading partner for more than a decade and is also its main oil customer.
Chinese purchases accounted for more than 80 per cent of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, averaging about 1.4 million barrels a day, according to commodities data provider Kpler.
The situation has become more significant as disruptions to the region’s major shipping routes threaten energy supplies. The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb are important links for international trade, while the Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for Middle Eastern oil exports.
The Houthis, who have close ties with Iran, have emerged as a major armed force in Yemen and have previously targeted shipping in and around the Red Sea. Iranian sources and Western governments say the group receives support from Tehran.
China has previously demonstrated a willingness to play a diplomatic role in the region. In 2023, Beijing helped broker an agreement that restored diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of tensions.
Whether Tehran will respond to China’s latest request remains unclear. Iran’s relationship with the Houthis is only one part of its broader regional strategy, while Beijing has to balance its ties with Iran against its extensive economic relationships with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states.
The developments highlight China’s growing interest in preventing instability from disrupting the energy and trade routes on which its economy depends, while also testing how much diplomatic influence Beijing can exercise over its partners in the Middle East.
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