After Iran struck out with BRICS and China this week in its search for international support, China reportedly privately told the Iranians to rein in their proxies in Yemen, the Houthi insurgents, who have repeatedly attacked Saudi Arabia and sought to block Saudi shipping through the Bab el Mandeb Strait.
Reuters on Thursday quoted three Iranian sources who said Saudi Arabia requested help from China in pushing back against the Houthi onslaught. China, in turn, asked Iran to pull the Houthis back before the conflict escalates further – and threatens shipping lines China needs to fulfill its prodigious demand for oil.
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The Iranian sources were reluctant to say exactly how China made this appeal to Iran. It could have been delivered by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in person to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi when the latter visited Beijing on Wednesday.
Wang publicly urged Araghchi to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during that visit and return to compliance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) brokered between the U.S. and Iran by Pakistan in June.
Araghchi’s visit to Beijing came after the Houthis launched a drone at Mecca, the Islamic holy city in Saudi Arabia. The attack drew sharp condemnations from Muslim nations and organizations across the Middle East.
According to the Iranian sources, China “did not issue any explicit threats or indicate that Beijing would seek to pressure Tehran economically if it failed to use its influence over the Houthis.” Iran purportedly responded to China’s request by blaming all hostilities in the Middle East on the U.S. and Israel.
“China does not wish to see regional tensions further spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea. Escalating regional instability is not in the interests of any party,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said when Reuters asked for comment on its story.
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