Rubio Calls on China to Help End Iranian Blockade of Strait of Hormuz

U.S. and Iran. Rubio made the remarks during an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.

U.S. and China have a shared interest in opening up the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's crude oil flows. "We've made the argument to the Chinese – and I hope it's compelling, and they'll have a chance to do something about it at the United Nations later this week when there's a resolution just condemning Iran on what they're doing with the straits," Rubio said.

China has ships stuck in the Persian Gulf, Rubio said. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is destabilizing Asia, he added, noting that China's economy is export-driven. "So it's in their interest to resolve this, and we hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to walk away from what they're doing now and trying to do now in the Persian Gulf," Rubio said.

President Donald Trump is in Beijing attending a summit with Xi Jinping as of May 14, 2026. A variety of economic and political issues are being discussed at the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing. S.

Has made the argument to the Chinese that they should play a more active role regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. He stated that China has a shared interest in lifting the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio said the blockade is destabilizing Asia and that it is in China's interest to resolve the situation with Iran in the Persian Gulf.