US Accuses China of Funding Iran, Seeks Help to Reopen Strait of Hormuz
According to Al Jazeera on Tuesday (5/5/2026), the accusation was made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent stated that Beijing must assist Washington in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran closed due to attacks by the US and Israel.
Bessent’s sharp criticism of China’s relationship with Iran was delivered ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing next week, where Trump is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.
“Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has bought 90 per cent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Bessent told Fox News.
Despite the accusations, the US official called on Beijing to join Washington in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He said China should support the US.
“Iran’s attacks have closed the strait. We are reopening it. So I urge China to join us in supporting this international operation,” Bessent said.
Trump had previously announced on Sunday (3/5) that the US would ‘escort’ stranded ships in Hormuz out of the strait. He also warned Iran not to interfere with the operation dubbed ‘Project Freedom’.
Bessent said Iran has no control over the Strait of Hormuz and claimed the US has absolute control over the strait. However, the US Treasury Secretary suggested that China use its influence over Iran to help resolve the crisis.
“Let’s see them step up diplomatic efforts and get Iran to open the strait,” he said.
Trump’s ‘Maximum Pressure’
Bessent also noted that China and Russia have vetoed efforts to condemn Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz at the UN Security Council. Beijing and Moscow, he said, blocked a UN draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month, stating that the resolution was one-sided and only condemned Tehran without addressing the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
China’s Ambassador, Fu Cong, said the draft “failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner”.
Since cancelling the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran during his first term in 2018, Trump has sought to silence Iran’s energy experts through a “maximum pressure” sanctions campaign.
For information, the Strait of Hormuz was initially open to all ships. Iran closed the vital global oil trade route in response to US and Israeli attacks on 28 February.