Rubio Urges China to Persuade Iran Not to Close Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to persuade Iran not to block the Strait of Hormuz during an interview on Fox News on June 22, 2025.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on China to use its influence with the Iranian government to discourage Tehran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically vital waterway that an estimated 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through.

“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil,” Rubio said on Sunday in an interview with Fox News.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by Eric Olander

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms
6 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans

You Might Like

Fearful of Further Roiling Ties With China, Biden Expected to Resist Congressional Pressure to Crack Down on Iranian Oil

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed legislation this week that aims to limit China’s purchases of Iranian oil to sanction Tehran for last weekend’s missile attack against Israel. The Iran-China Energy Sanctions Act ...

U.S. Sanctions Network Delivering Iranian Oil to China

The U.S. Treasury announced financial sanctions on Thursday, the first under the new administration of Donald Trump, that target an “international network” accused of shipping Iranian oil to China to fund Tehran’s military ...

U.S. Urges China to Keep Iran From Shutting Key Trade Route

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China Sunday to help deter Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial trade route, following American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. “I encourage the Chinese ...

Trump Says China Can Continue to Buy Iranian Oil

China can continue to buy Iranian oil, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, in what appeared to be relief for Tehran from sanctions that Washington has previously imposed to punish the trade. ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP