Beijing Seeks Tehran's Help to Curb Yemen's Houthi Movement

China has privately urged Iran to help curb the Houthi movement in Yemen after Saudi Arabia appealed for assistance following recent military gains by the group. The Chinese request was made behind closed doors, but its message went further than public statements.

The Houthis' advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have left Saudi oil exports more exposed. This has prompted Riyadh to seek China's help in preventing a wider conflict that could disrupt energy routes on which Beijing depends.

China, Iran's largest trading partner for over a decade, relies heavily on Iranian oil imports. In 2025, Chinese purchases accounted for over 80% of Iran's seaborne oil exports, averaging about 1.4 million barrels per day.