️🇨🇳🇮🇷🇸🇦🇾🇪🇾🇪 Reuters: China has privately urged Iran to use its influence to rein in the Houthis in Yemen after Saudi Arabia turned to Beijing for help, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. The appeal follows a rapid advance by the Houthis along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab strait, which has increased the risks to Saudi oil exports and shipping.

️🇨🇳🇮🇷🇸🇦🇾🇪🇾🇪 Reuters: China has privately urged Iran to use its influence to rein in the Houthis in Yemen after Saudi Arabia turned to Beijing for help, according to three Iranian sources familiar with the matter. The appeal follows a rapid advance by the Houthis along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab strait, which has increased the risks to Saudi oil exports and shipping.

Beijing's private message reportedly went further than its public calls for restraint, dialogue and safe navigation, as China seeks to prevent the conflict from spreading across vital energy routes on which its economy depends. Iran responded that regional stability and peace depend on the end of the war between the US and Israel in Iran.

China has significant economic ties with Iran and has helped broker the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023, but it remains unclear whether Tehran will act on Beijing's concerns. Chinese officials said regional tensions should not spill over to Yemen and the Red Sea, urging talks and an end to actions that further complicate the situation.