The US is now urging China to step in and dissuade Iran from shuttering the Strait of Hormuz—a critical artery for global oil and gas—following recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on Fox News, called on Beijing to intervene, reminding them that roughly 20% of their oil imports pass through the Strait.
The backdrop of this diplomacy is intense. Tehran’s parliament has reportedly approved a measure to close the Strait in retaliation to the US strikes—moves involving bunker-buster bombs, Tomahawk missiles, and 125+ aircraft targeting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Rubio warned an actual shutdown would amount to “economic suicide” for Iran and threatened that it would prompt international retaliation, creating broader global turmoil.
China has remained largely silent on the issue. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not commented, even though Beijing heavily relies on Hormuz for its oil shipments. Rubio emphasized that China’s economic well-being is tied to keeping the passage open and described it as a shared interest with the US and other energy-dependent economies.
Analysts note the stakes are high: a full closure could catapult oil prices past $100–130 a barrel and threaten global economic stability. While some experts believe Iran might hesitate, the mere threat has already rattled markets and shifted supply chain calculations.
This diplomatic gesture underscores the US strategy of reliance on allies to contain global fallout from Middle East tensions. Yet it also places China in a delicate position—its silence could be interpreted as tacit consent or a refusal to be drawn into escalating conflict.
For now, the world watches whether Beijing will answer Washington’s call and persuade Iran to stand down—or if the Strait will become the next battleground in a brewing geopolitical showdown.
