US Warns China to Help Stop Iran from Closing Key Oil Route, Says It Could Hurt Global Economy
— Simplified report with a unique perspective, inspired by BBC News
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has asked China to step in and stop Iran from shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important routes in the world for oil transport, according to BBC News.
This warning comes after Iran’s parliament agreed to a plan to close the Strait, although the final decision must be made by Iran’s top security council. If Iran closes this narrow sea route, it could block about 20% of the world’s oil supply. As reported by BBC News, this would cause serious problems not only for the US but also for other countries—especially China, which is Iran’s biggest oil customer.
Rubio told Fox News, “If they [Iran] close the Strait, it will be economic suicide for them.” He also encouraged China to speak with Iran directly, since China depends heavily on that oil. From BBC’s report, we also learned that China recently bought over 1.8 million barrels of oil per day from Iran.
Prices of oil quickly went up after the US bombed some of Iran’s nuclear sites over the weekend, BBC reported. Brent oil briefly jumped to over $81 per barrel. Oil prices affect everyday costs—from fuel to food—so any disruption could hit average people hard.
BBC News also highlighted how other Asian countries like India, Japan, and South Korea also get much of their oil through this same route. If the Strait is blocked, oil prices could skyrocket, and that could create inflation worldwide.
BBC quoted energy expert Vandana Hari, who said Iran has “little to gain and too much to lose” by closing the Strait. She explained that Iran might lose support from its neighbours and anger China if it goes ahead.
Meanwhile, tensions between the US and Iran have gotten worse. According to BBC, President Trump claimed the US destroyed Iran’s nuclear sites, but it’s unclear how much real damage was done. Iran said only minor damage happened, and the UN’s nuclear agency hasn’t been able to confirm the destruction.
BBC also reported that China isn’t happy with the US strikes either. China’s ambassador to the UN asked all sides to stop using force and avoid making the situation worse. The Chinese government’s newspaper, Global Times, said the US is making things more dangerous in the Middle East.
Unique Perspective:
This news shows how one narrow stretch of water—Strait of Hormuz—can affect the whole world. It’s not just a Middle East problem. Everyday people could end up paying more for fuel and food if the tension continues. What’s unique here is how countries like China, even though they usually don’t get involved in US-Iran matters, are now being pushed to act because their own economy is at risk too.
This is a wake-up call for all nations that rely on global trade and oil. As BBC News has repeatedly shown, even a small event in one region can shake economies across the globe.
Credit: This story is based on multiple insights from BBC News.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c056pyv723vo