US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on China to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to ensure the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Bessent stated that China, which imports 90% of Iran's energy, has the leverage to influence Iran's actions in the vital waterway.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday pressed China to ramp up diplomatic pressure on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz even as he stressed that the US has “absolute control” over the strategic waterway. “Let’s see [China] step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” Bessent said in a Fox News interview. “Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism and China has been buying 90 per cent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of...