The United States has reportedly sought China's assistance in encouraging Tehran to control the Iranian-aligned Houthi rebels responsible for attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. According to U.S. officials, there has been a limited indication of cooperation from Beijing. Over the past three months, U.S. authorities have consistently raised the matter with top Chinese officials.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Deputy Jon Finer discussed the issue in recent meetings with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Liaison Department of China's Communist Party.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also addressed the matter with his Chinese counterpart. Despite these engagements, U.S. officials perceive little evidence that China has exerted pressure on Iran to restrain the Houthi rebels, beyond a mild statement issued by Beijing last week.

Over the last three months, the U.S. has consistently addressed the issue with high-ranking Chinese officials. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and his deputy, Jon Finer, engaged in discussions on the matter this month in Washington with Liu Jianchao, the head of the International Liaison Department of China's Communist Party, as reported by the newspaper.

According to the report, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the issue with his Chinese counterpart. U.S. officials are of the opinion that there is scant evidence suggesting that China exerted substantial pressure on Iran to curb the activities of the Houthis, aside from a mild statement issued by Beijing. U.S. military conducted strikes in Yemen, successfully neutralizing two Houthi anti-ship missiles that were targeted at the Red Sea and were in the preparatory stages of launch.

U.S. and British forces conducted a series of airstrikes in Yemen, specifically targeting a subterranean storage facility utilized by the Houthi group, along with their missile and surveillance capabilities deployed against Red Sea shipping.

The Houthi-initiated attacks have led to disruptions in global shipping and heightened concerns about the potential impact on global inflation. Furthermore, there is growing apprehension that the repercussions of the Israel-Hamas conflict could contribute to destabilizing the Middle East region.

Image source: Reuters