US Accuses China of Funding Iran, Urges Beijing to Help Reopen Strait of Hormuz

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on May 4 sharply criticized the relationship between China and Iran, accusing Beijing of 'funding' Tehran by purchasing 90% of its energy. Speaking on Fox News, Bessent said: 'Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has purchased 90% of their energy, so they are funding the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism.'

Despite the accusation, the US official called on Beijing to join Washington in the campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. 'The attacks from Iran have shut down the strait. We are reopening it. So, I call on the Chinese to join us in supporting this international campaign,' Bessent said.

Earlier, President Donald Trump on May 3 announced the US would 'lead the way' for ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, warning Iran not to interfere with the operation called 'Project Freedom.' Bessent affirmed that the US has 'absolute control' over the strait.

However, the US Treasury Secretary also suggested that China use its influence over Iran to help resolve the crisis. 'Let us see them step forward with some diplomacy and persuade the Iranians to open the strait,' he said.

Bessent also criticized China and Russia for vetoing efforts to condemn Iran's blockade of Hormuz at the United Nations Security Council. Early in April, Beijing and Moscow blocked a draft UN resolution on Hormuz, arguing that it was one-sided and only condemned Tehran without mentioning US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said the draft 'did not comprehensively and balancedly capture the root causes and full picture of the conflict.'

Since scrapping the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran in his first term in 2018, Trump has steadily sought to choke the country's energy exports through a 'maximum pressure' campaign of sanctions. The previous JCPOA agreement allowed Iran to significantly roll back its nuclear program under international supervision in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. After the deal collapsed, China continued to import oil from Iran.

Last week, after the US imposed sanctions on Chinese entities linked to oil trade with Iran, Beijing declared it does not recognize Washington's jurisdiction over financial transactions in which the US is not involved. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stressed: 'China opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law. We urge the US to stop arbitrarily imposing sanctions and using extraterritorial jurisdiction. China will resolutely protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.'

The fresh tensions over Iran come after a period of warming US-China relations, with the two countries reaching a preliminary trade agreement late last year. For years, the US has viewed China as its top global competitor, drawing up plans to counter Beijing's growing economic, geopolitical, and military power.

Bilateral relations had soured due to disagreements on trade, China's claims in the South China Sea, and the Taiwan issue. However, since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has declared that Washington would shift foreign policy resources to focus on the Western Hemisphere rather than competition in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bessent said a summit next week would allow President Trump and President Xi Jinping to exchange views directly. 'We've had great stability in the relationship, and again, that comes from the two leaders having great respect for each other,' he said.