US Asks China To Urge Iran To Stop Houthi Attacks In Red Sea

The United States has reportedly called on China to use its influence with Iran to restrain the Houthi forces, who have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

However, there have been limited signs of cooperation from Beijing, according to US officials cited in a Financial Times report.

Over the past three months, US officials have consistently raised concerns about these attacks with senior Chinese officials. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer addressed the matter during recent meetings with Liu Jianchao, who heads China's Communist Party's International Liaison Department.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart. Despite these discussions, US officials believe that China has not exerted significant pressure on Iran to curb the Houthi rebels, aside from issuing a mild statement on the subject last week.

Houthis began launching missiles and drones at commercial vessels passing through the strategic Red Sea carrying cargo between Asia and Europe. The attacks began after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called for a blockade of Israel, after war broke out in Gaza.

Earlier, the US military conducted strikes in Yemen, destroying two Houthi anti-ship missiles aimed at the Red Sea and ready for launch. On another occasion, US and British forces conducted strikes targeting a Houthi underground storage site, as well as missile and surveillance capabilities used by the Iran-aligned group for attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping and raised concerns about global inflation. They have also heightened worries that the fallout from the Israel-Hamas conflict could further destabilize the Middle East.