The White House is urging China to use its diplomatic leverage with Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane, as tensions escalate ahead of a high-stakes meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to pressure Iran during a visit by Tehran's foreign minister, highlighting the economic impact of the blockade on Beijing. The US is also seeking China's support for a UN resolution condemning Iran's actions, while China has signaled concerns over US arms sales to Taiwan.
White House officials are intensifying their calls for China to leverage its influence over Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime route, just days before a pivotal summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at a White House briefing on Tuesday, urged Chinese officials to use Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's scheduled visit to China on Wednesday to pressure Tehran into lifting its blockade of the strait. Rubio emphasized that China, as a major importer of Middle Eastern oil and a key economic player, has a vested interest in resolving the crisis.
The strait's closure has severely disrupted global shipping, particularly affecting China's export-driven economy, which relies heavily on shipments passing through the waterway. According to China's General Administration of Customs, Beijing imports about half of its crude oil and nearly one-third of its liquefied natural gas from the Middle East. Rubio's appeal comes amid broader diplomatic efforts by the US to rally international support against Iran's actions.
A diplomat familiar with the matter revealed to The Associated Press that the US has been actively persuading China to abstain from vetoing a recent US-backed UN Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the strait and condemning Iran's blockade. China and Russia, both allies of Tehran on the council, previously vetoed a similar resolution, arguing that it unfairly targeted Iran while ignoring US and Israeli military actions that precipitated the conflict.
The diplomatic push follows Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's announcement that Iran will be a top agenda item during Trump and Xi's summit, the first visit by a US president to China since Trump's 2017 trip. The strait's closure has had a profound impact on Asia, prompting China to collaborate with Pakistan to mediate a two-week ceasefire.
Trump has acknowledged China's role in facilitating the ceasefire, with diplomats confirming that Beijing, as Iran's largest oil buyer, used its leverage to bring Tehran back to negotiations. However, the Trump administration believes China can do more to help reopen the strait. Bessent, in a Fox News interview, urged China to support international efforts to secure the waterway, stating, The threat of attacks from Iran has closed the strait—we are reopening it.
Trump, meanwhile, adopted a more measured tone, noting that China has not challenged him despite his pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program and reopen the strait. He also highlighted China's dependence on Middle Eastern oil, though he slightly exaggerated the extent of Beijing's reliance. China has historically supported Iran's ballistic missile program and provided dual-use industrial components for missile production, according to US officials.
However, Trump claimed last month that Xi had agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, following reports that Beijing was considering arms transfers. Trump also alleged that US forces intercepted a ship carrying a gift from China bound for Iran, though he provided no further details. The administration has ramped up economic pressure on China for its ties to Iran, imposing sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and around 40 shipping companies involved in transporting Iranian oil.
These sanctions cut off the targeted entities from the US financial system and penalize any business dealings with them. In parallel, China has signaled its intent to pressure the US to reduce arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing views as a breakaway province. Rubio confirmed that Taiwan will likely be a topic of discussion between Trump and Xi
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