The United States is asking by China to exert its “influence” on Iran in order to “stop” attacks by Yemen’s Houthis — who are backed by Tehran — against ships in the Red Sea, a senior White House official said today.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan pressed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to use his country’s influence to help stop Iran’s support for the Houthis attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea, he said specifically.

“Beijing is telling us that it is raising the issue with Iran but we are seeing what is actually happening, and these attacks seem to be continuing,” the official said, adding that Washington is waiting to see if China does that and how effective it is. is. He pointed out that Jake Sullivan had mentioned this expectation of Washington in the discussions he just had in Bangkok with the Chinese foreign minister.

Chinese and American diplomats they had two days of meetings in Bangkok.