China’s Role in Iran’s Oil Trade and Strait of Hormuz Tensions

U. S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on China to take a more active diplomatic role in persuading Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping. The strait is a critical route for oil exports, and tensions there could disrupt energy supplies worldwide. Bessent argues that since China buys 90% of Iran’s oil, Beijing has significant leverage over Tehran. He believes China should use this influence to push Iran toward easing restrictions on shipping, rather than just relying on military presence to keep the strait open.Bessent also criticized China and Russia for blocking UN-backed efforts to protect commercial shipping in the region. He insists that these countries should support international initiatives instead of standing in the way. Meanwhile, he reassured that the U. S. remains firmly in control of the strait due to its naval operations, which aim to stabilize oil prices. He describes recent fuel price spikes as a short-term issue that will resolve soon, partly because oil markets remain well-supplied. Looking ahead, Bessent mentioned that U. S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss Iran during their upcoming summit in Beijing. The two leaders have shown mutual respect, which has helped maintain stability in U. S. -China relations since their trade truce last year. However, the question remains whether diplomacy—or economic pressure—will be the most effective way to ease tensions in the region.