Reuters: China asked Iran to reind the Houthis at the request of Saudi Arabia." (9/17/26)
According to sources who spoke to Reuters, China specifically requested Tehran to control the Houthis in Yemen after Saudi Arabia asked for help.
According to sources, Riyadh applied to China after the Houthis moved rapidly along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mendeb Strait. These developments put Saudi oil exports and maritime transport at greater risk.
Sources claimed that China called for restraint, dialogue and restoration of safe maritime transportation in public, but its private message went beyond these statements.
Beijing wants Iran to use its influence on the Houthis to help prevent the further spread of conflict in the energy routes that China, the world's second-largest economy, depends on.
The sources, who were informed about the talks and spoke on condition that their identities were not disclosed, did not give details on how the message was conveyed or whether it was transmitted during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakçi's visit to China on Wednesday.
According to sources, Tehran's response was that stability and peace in the region depended on the end of the US-Israel war against Iran.
Responding to Reuters' request for comment on the subject, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the following statement:
“China does not want to see regional tensions spread further to Yemen and the Red Sea. It is not in the interest of any side that regional instability escalates.”
The ministry also used the following statements:
“The sovereignty and security of all countries should be respected, and facilities that are vital for people's lives should not be targeted. China calls for an end to actions that make the situation more complicated and supports the resolution of problems through dialogue and negotiation.”
According to three Iranian sources, it remains unclear whether Tehran will act in line with the concerns raised by Beijing.
However, the sources stated that relations with China have an important economic and strategic weight for Iran in the face of ongoing tensions with the USA.
China is one of the few countries with the financial capacity to make the necessary investments to support the Iranian economy, which is under heavy pressure due to war and sanctions, and to ensure the sustainability of the oil sector.
Beijing has also shown diplomatic influence. China mediated the agreement that re-established relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia after years of hostility in 2023.
However, this effect has limits. Critics in Iran complain that China's non-oil trade and investment level is relatively limited despite the 25-year cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in 2021. This situation draws attention, especially compared to China's increasing investment commitments to the Gulf Arab countries.
Two Iranian sources said Beijing's interests are just one of many elements in Iran's decision-making process.
According to sources, Iran's decisions are shaped by the balances between strategic, economic and political priorities.