China privately urged Iran to rein in Houthis after Saudi appeal, Reuters reports

China asked Iranian officials to use their influence with the Houthis to prevent disruption of energy routes it depends on, after Saudi Arabia appealed to Beijing following Houthi attacks, three Iranian sources told Reuters. Tehran replied that regional stability depends on ending the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Why this matters. Beijing, Iran's main oil customer, is quietly using its leverage as the Red Sea front threatens Gulf exports.