US urges China to dissuade Iran from closing Strait of Hormuz
WASHINGTON: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday called on China to encourage Iran to not shut down the Strait of Hormuz after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Rubio's comments on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo" show came after Iran's Press TV reported that the Iranian parliament approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of global oil and gas flows.
"I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil," said Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser.
Iran's top security body to decide on Hormuz closure, Press TV reports
"If they do that, it will be another terrible mistake. It's economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that, but other countries should be looking at that as well. It would hurt other countries' economies a lot worse than ours."
Rubio said a move to close the strait would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the U.S. and others.
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately provide comment.
U.S. officials said it "obliterated" Iran's main nuclear sites using 14 bunker-buster bombs, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles and over 125 military aircraft. The strikes mark an escalation in the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict.
Tehran has vowed to defend itself. Rubio on Sunday warned against retaliation, saying such an action would be "the worst mistake they've ever made."
He added that the U.S. is prepared to talk with Iran.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
29 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Iran launches six missiles toward US bases in Qatar
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei looks on, in a televised message following the Israeli strikes in Tehran, Iran, June 13, 2025. Photo: Reuters/ File Axios, citing an Israeli official, reported on Monday that Iran had launched six missiles toward US bases in Qatar, following an earlier report that Tehran was preparing to do so. Meanwhile, several explosions were heard over the Qatari capital, Doha, a Reuters witness said, following Tehran's threats to retaliate against US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. The White House and the Department of Defense are closely monitoring potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, a senior White House official said. 'The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and are closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base,' the official stated. BREAKING: Iran's state TV IRIB says Operation Basharat al-Fath against U.S. bases has begun. — Clash Report (@clashreport) June 23, 2025 The United Arab Emirates is closely monitoring ongoing regional developments and continuously assessing the situation, a government spokesperson said on Monday. The statement was issued in response to a Reuters inquiry about whether the UAE planned to close its airspace, following Qatar's decision to do so amid the escalating regional crisis. The United States embassy in Qatar advised American citizens to "shelter in place", following Tehran's threats to retaliate for US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Several other Western embassies echoed the warning. Qatar, a gas-rich Gulf nation located about 190 kilometres (120 miles) south of Iran, hosts the US military's largest base in the region — Al Udeid Air Base. 'Out of an abundance of caution, we recommend American citizens shelter in place until further notice,' the US embassy stated on its website. Britain and Canada later cited the US alert in their own advisories to nationals. Iran's armed forces warned on Monday of 'serious, unpredictable consequences' for the United States in response to the airstrikes on three nuclear sites. In neighbouring Bahrain, which hosts the US Navy's Fifth Fleet, the American embassy said it had 'temporarily shifted a portion of its employees to local telework.' Bahraini authorities had earlier directed most government workers to work from home, citing 'regional circumstances.' Responding to the embassy warnings, Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said that such advisories "do not necessarily reflect the existence of specific or credible threats." 'We would like to reassure the public that the security situation in the state remains stable,' he wrote on X. 'Qatar continues to exert intensive diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the region.' Separately, on Sunday, the US State Department advised Americans worldwide to 'exercise increased caution' due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. Following Israel's initial strikes on Iran on June 13, the US embassy in Qatar had already urged staff and American citizens to 'exercise increased caution' and limit non-essential travel to Al Udeid Air Base. This story is being updated.
Business Recorder
31 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
Explosions heard over Qatar capital Doha after Iran threat to retaliate for US strikes
DOHA/ISTANBUL/TEL AVIV: Explosions were heard over Qatar's capital Doha on Monday, a Reuters witness reported, shortly after a Western diplomat said there had been a credible Iranian threat against the US-run al Udeid air base in the Gulf Arab state since midday. The diplomat spoke soon after Qatar announced it had closed its air space temporarily to ensure the safety of residents and visitors. Earlier, the U.S. embassy in Qatar had advised Americans to shelter in place, out of what it said was 'an abundance of caution'. Iran has issued threats to retaliate against the United States after U.S. bombers dropped 30,000-pound bunker-busters on the country's underground nuclear installations over the weekend, while President Donald Trump openly raised the possibility of the Iranian government being toppled. Earlier on Monday, Israel struck a jail for political prisoners in Tehran in a potent demonstration that it was expanding its targets beyond military and nuclear sites to aim squarely at the pillars of Iran's ruling system. Two U.S. officials said Washington assessed that Iran could carry out attacks targeting American forces in the Middle East soon, although the U.S. is still seeking a diplomatic resolution that would see Tehran forgo any reprisal. Despite Iran's threats to challenge oil shipments from the Gulf, oil prices largely held steady, suggesting traders doubted the Islamic Republic would follow through on any action that would disrupt global supplies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as Tehran sought backing from one of its last major power friends for its next steps.
Business Recorder
an hour ago
- Business Recorder
Several explosions heard over Qatar capital Doha, Reuters witness says
Sounds of several explosions were heard over Qatari capital Doha, a Reuters witness said on Monday, following Tehran's threats to retaliate against the U.S.'s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
