Riyadh/Beijing/TEHRAN -UNS: Three informed Iranian sources told Reuters that China had secretly asked Iran to use its influence over Yemen’s Houthi group, also known as Ansar Allah, to help curb its attacks and military activities in Yemen and the Red Sea.
According to the sources, the Chinese request followed an appeal from Saudi Arabia for Beijing’s assistance in containing the repercussions of Houthi activities, particularly after the group made rapid military advances along parts of Yemen’s Red Sea coast and around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The developments raised concerns over the security of maritime traffic and Saudi oil export routes.
A Chinese Move Behind Closed Doors
The Iranian sources said that Beijing, while publicly calling for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of maritime security, delivered a more specific message to Tehran through private channels, urging Iran to use its influence over the Houthis to help prevent the conflict from expanding and affecting energy and shipping routes in the Red Sea.
The sources did not disclose how the message was conveyed to the Iranian side, nor whether the request was discussed during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Beijing on Wednesday.
China’s position is particularly significant because of its reliance on energy and commercial shipping routes through the region. Any further escalation or prolonged disruption to maritime traffic in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait could increase risks and costs for global shipping.
Saudi Arabia Seeks Beijing’s Assistance
According to the three sources who spoke to Reuters, Saudi Arabia turned to China for assistance following rapid military developments in Yemen’s coastal areas, which the sources said had increased risks to Saudi oil exports and commercial shipping.
The development comes amid closer relations between Beijing and both Riyadh and Tehran in recent years, particularly following China’s role in brokering the restoration of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2023.
At the same time, China has maintained a public position calling for de-escalation, dialogue and efforts to prevent the conflict from spreading across the region.
China: We Do Not Want Tensions to Spread to Yemen and the Red Sea
In response to questions from Reuters about the communications, China’s Foreign Ministry said that Beijing did not want regional tensions to spread to Yemen and the Red Sea.
The ministry added that escalating instability in the region was not in the interests of any party, while reiterating China’s call for restraint, dialogue and the restoration of maritime security.
The Chinese position indicates that Beijing’s concerns extend beyond the political dimensions of the conflict to include the security of the trade and energy routes passing through the region.
Iran Links Regional Stability to an End to the War
The sources said Iran’s response to the Chinese message focused on the position that achieving regional stability and peace requires an end to what Tehran describes as the war being waged against it by the United States and Israel.
The sources added that Chinese officials made no explicit threats to Iran and did not suggest that Beijing would seek to impose economic pressure on Tehran if it failed to use its influence over the Houthis.
It remains unclear, based on the available information, what commitments Iran might be prepared to make regarding Houthi activities, or to what extent the group would respond to any request from Tehran.
One Killed and Two Injured by Falling Drone Debris in Taif
In a separate development, Saudi authorities reported that one person was killed and two others were injured after debris from a drone fell in Taif Governorate.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the debris came from a drone launched by the Houthi group. It said that a Yemeni resident was killed, while a Saudi woman and a Pakistani resident were injured. The Pakistani resident was reported to have suffered critical injuries.
The authorities also said that fragments from the drone caused material damage to several buildings and vehicles, while Civil Defence teams responded to the incident and dealt with the debris.
Drone Intercepted on Route Towards Mecca
A day earlier, the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced the interception and destruction of a drone launched by the Houthi group, which it said had attempted to enter the airspace of the Mecca region.
The incident prompted condemnation from a number of Arab and Islamic countries. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry also condemned what it described as the Houthi group’s launch of a hostile drone towards the holy city of Mecca.
The ministry reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to take all necessary measures to protect the security of the Two Holy Mosques and the Kingdom’s entire territory.
The Red Sea at the Centre of Regional Calculations
The developments come amid growing concerns that the repercussions of the wider regional conflict could spread to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, two strategically important maritime passages linking major trade and energy routes between Asia and Europe.
The Bab al-Mandab is particularly important for oil tankers, container ships and other commercial vessels. Prolonged disruption in the area could force shipping companies to alter their routes, potentially increasing journey times and operating costs.
For Saudi Arabia, China and Iran, the Red Sea represents a convergence of security, economic and strategic interests. Riyadh is concerned with the security of its territory and oil exports, while China has a direct interest in maintaining stable trade and energy routes. At the same time, Iran’s relationship with the Houthis remains an important factor in the wider Yemeni and regional security landscape.
What Does the Chinese Request Mean?
If the information provided by the Iranian sources to Reuters is accurate, the Chinese request reflects Beijing’s desire to prevent the current tensions from developing into a wider crisis that could threaten international shipping and energy supplies.
However, the available information does not establish whether the Chinese request has resulted in any change in Houthi behaviour, nor whether Tehran has made specific commitments to Beijing.
The nature of Iran’s relationship with the Houthis, as well as the extent of Tehran’s ability to influence the group’s decisions, also remains an issue requiring further publicly available evidence before the effectiveness of any potential Iranian pressure can be assessed.
China’s public statements, meanwhile, continue to emphasise opposition to any further escalation, indicating that Beijing views the security of the Red Sea as part of its broader economic and strategic interests.
Conclusion
The reported communications between China and Iran coincide with an escalation in military developments involving drone attacks and incidents caused by falling drone debris inside Saudi Arabia, placing the security of the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait under renewed scrutiny.
While Riyadh is seeking to contain threats to its territory and economic interests, Beijing is seeking to prevent instability from spreading to vital trade and energy routes. Tehran, meanwhile, continues to link regional stability to an end to the conflict with the United States and Israel.
The extent to which the reported Chinese request may influence Houthi actions, and whether it could contribute to a reduction in regional tensions, remains unclear.
