China intervened in the Persian Gulf conflict and asked Iran to restrain the Houthis

China privately asked Tehran to help rein in Yemen’s Houthis after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Three Iranian sources familiar with the matter said to Reuters that Riyadh sought Chinese help after the Iran-backed group made rapid advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The sources said the moves left Saudi oil exports and shipping more exposed.

China has publicly called for restraint, dialogue and safe navigation, but the sources said its private message went further. Beijing wants Iran to use its influence with the Houthis to prevent the conflict from spreading across energy routes on which China depends. The sources, who were briefed on the discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity, did not say how the message was delivered or whether it came during Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to China on Wednesday.

The sources said Tehran responded that regional stability and peace depend on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran. They said Chinese officials did not issue explicit threats or indicate Beijing would seek to pressure Tehran economically if Iran failed to act.

China’s foreign ministry said it did not want tensions to spill further into Yemen and the Red Sea.