NEW YORK – The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump hopes to encourage China to play a more active diplomatic role in influencing Iran and helping reduce tensions in the Middle East, according to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Rubio said Washington believes it is in Beijing’s strategic and economic interest to support efforts aimed at restoring stability in the Gulf region and preventing further escalation.
“We hope to convince them to play a more active role in getting Iran to step back from its current actions and activities in the Persian Gulf,” Rubio stated.
He emphasized that ongoing instability in the Middle East poses significant risks to global trade and energy security, particularly for Asian economies that rely heavily on maritime routes through the Gulf for energy supplies.
Rubio also noted that Chinese commercial shipping interests operating in the Persian Gulf could be directly affected by any escalation in the region. He warned that continued tensions threaten broader international stability and could have far-reaching economic consequences beyond the Middle East.
The remarks come amid growing international concern over regional security and efforts by major global powers to prevent further escalation in one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.
BY: The Times Union
