US urges China to dissuade Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions

The United States has called on China to use its influence to dissuade Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such a move would trigger severe global economic fallout and risk major escalation following U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday publicly urged China to intervene diplomatically with Iran to prevent any move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz — a vital maritime chokepoint for global oil and gas shipments — following American airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Speaking on Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News, Rubio said Beijing should use its influence with Tehran to avoid a potentially catastrophic disruption to international energy supplies. His remarks come after Iran’s Press TV reported that the Iranian parliament approved a resolution to close the strait, through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and gas transits.

"I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil," Rubio said. "If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it."
Rubio, who also serves as the U.S. National Security Adviser, stressed that Washington would view any closure of the strait as a serious escalation, adding that it would have global economic repercussions far beyond the U.S.

"We retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours," he said.
The comments follow a dramatic military escalation over the weekend in which U.S. forces launched a coordinated strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, targeting facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The Pentagon confirmed the use of 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles, and over 125 aircraft in what officials described as a mission to "obliterate" Iran’s key nuclear capabilities.

In response, Tehran has vowed to defend itself. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not yet issued a statement regarding Rubio’s appeal or the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio warned Iran against launching any retaliation for the U.S. strikes, stating it would be "the worst mistake they've ever made," but also emphasised that the United States remains open to dialogue.

The developments have raised alarm among international observers, with many warning that any disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a broader economic crisis and further inflame tensions in the region.

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