Gulf states are appealing to China to rein in Iran as confidence in the U.S. ability to end a five-month conflict dwindles. They hope Beijing will leverage its economic ties to push Tehran toward a deal that reopens the Strait of Hormuz after recent strikes threatened energy exports. China has stepped up diplomacy and ceasefire talks, but Gulf governments remain cautious about deeper security ties amid reports of Chinese assistance to Iran.
Gulf States Urge China To Rein In Iran As U.S. Influence Appears To Wane
Gulf states push China to restrain Iran
Gulf states are urging China to rein in Iran as doubts grow about the United States' ability to end the five-month conflict. Recent strikes and fresh threats to energy exports have, Reuters reports, 'exposed the limits of American power', prompting Gulf governments to seek new leverage to secure regional stability and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Beijing Steps Up Diplomatic Engagement
China has recently increased its diplomatic activity in the Gulf, dispatching senior envoys to discuss ceasefire options and de-escalation measures. Gulf leaders hope Beijing will use its economic ties and influence with Tehran to broker a negotiated settlement that would ease tensions and resume safe shipping through the Strait.
Limits To Security Cooperation
Despite heightened diplomacy, Gulf governments have tempered expectations about forming deep security partnerships with China. Officials remain cautious amid reports that Beijing may be supplying Iran with satellite imagery and shoulder-launched missile systems — developments that complicate trust and long-term defense cooperation.
What This Means: The shift reflects a broader regional recalibration: Gulf states are seeking alternatives to sole reliance on U.S. security guarantees while balancing the risks of closer ties with a rising China that also has strategic links to Iran.
Reporting attributed to Tasneem Nashrulla and Reuters.
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