China asks Iran to restrain Houthis after Saudi appeal on Red Sea

China privately asked Iran to help restrain Yemen's Houthis after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing following the militia group's advances along the Red Sea coast and around Bab el-Mandeb Strait, according to three Iranian sources briefed on the discussions. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity and did not specify how the message was delivered or whether it was conveyed during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi's visit to China on 17 September.

Saudi appeal follows coastal advances#

Riyadh turned to China after Houthis seized effective control of Yemen's entire Red Sea coastline last week, including the port of Mocha and Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The advances left Saudi oil exports and shipping more exposed, the Iranian sources said. China's private message went further than its public calls for restraint and dialogue, they said. Beijing wants Iran to use its influence with the Houthis to prevent conflict spreading across energy routes on which China depends.

Iranian response cites regional conditions#

According to the three sources, Tehran replied that regional stability and peace require an end to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Chinese officials did not issue explicit threats or indicate Beijing would seek to pressure Tehran economically if it failed to use its influence, they said. China's foreign ministry said in response to a Reuters request that it does not wish to see regional tensions spill over into Yemen and the Red Sea, and called for dialogue. Iran's foreign ministry and Saudi Arabia's government media office did not respond to requests for comment.

US held separate talks with Houthis in Oman#

US officials met Houthi representatives at the US Embassy in Muscat over the weekend, five sources said. The meeting, organised with Oman's help, took place on Sunday according to one source. Houthis told US officials they had no intention of attacking American vessels and were committed to the 2025 ceasefire with the US, two sources said. One Yemeni source said the militia also stated they would not attack Israeli ships or commercial vessels except those belonging to Saudi Arabia. The Houthi delegation included Mohammad Abdulsalam and Abdelmalik al-Ajiri, sources said.

Trade and energy exposure#

Iran's main oil customer for over ten years has been China, which bought more than 80 percent of Iranian seaborne crude in 2025 at an average of 1.4 million barrels per day, Kpler reported. If Houthis mount sustained attacks on Red Sea vessels or ports, both of the Middle East's primary oil export corridors would face disruption at once, given that the Strait of Hormuz is already effectively shut. The Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea in July in response to a Saudi blockade of Yemeni ports.