The United States on Monday urged China to use its influence with Iran. It wants the Strait of Hormuz kept open to commercial shipping. Concern is rising over one of the world’s key oil and gas routes. Reuters reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called for Beijing to press Tehran through diplomacy and back efforts to secure the waterway.
Bessent said the issue will come up when President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping meet in Beijing on May 14 and 15, Reuters reported. He said China buys about 90% of Iran’s energy exports, which gives Beijing strong leverage. He also said China and Russia should stop blocking United Nations moves aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came as Washington and Beijing remain split over U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil. Reuters said China’s commerce ministry told companies not to comply with U.S. sanctions on five independent refiners, including Hengli Petrochemical. Beijing used a law that lets it retaliate against sanctions it sees as unlawful. The move added to pressure around trade, energy and security ties.
In Treasury remarks published on Monday, Bessent said about 20% of the world’s energy supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz each day. He said Iran has tried to threaten the route, push up fuel costs and strain supply chains. He cast the strait as a key point in global oil prices, the Strait of Hormuz, and shipping risk.
Bessent also said a new U.S. Navy operation to guide shipping through the waterway would help bring oil prices down. He described the recent rise in fuel costs as temporary. He said the market would be well supplied. Reuters linked the effort to reopening the strait for international traffic.
In his Treasury remarks, Bessent tied the Hormuz dispute to wider economic security. He said the U.S. has stronger domestic energy output and that many countries want a reliable supplier. His remarks framed the Strait of Hormuz as both a supply risk and a security issue.
The Strait of Hormuz sits between Iran and Oman. It is one of the world’s busiest energy chokepoints. Any longer disruption could affect crude oil prices, fuel supplies and shipping costs far beyond the Middle East. For now, the U.S. is pressing China to use its weight in Beijing’s ties with Tehran. The wider fight over Iran, sanctions and shipping access continues.