China privately urges Iran to curb Houthis after Saudi appeal

China has made a private request to Tehran to help restrain Yemen's Houthis, following a Saudi appeal to Beijing after the group's rapid military advances along the Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The move signals Riyadh's reliance on Beijing as a diplomatic intermediary with Iran, and reflects growing concern over threats to Saudi oil exports and shipping. The outcome of China's request remains uncertain, and the Houthis' trajectory is still active.