Washington - (Saba):
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China on Monday to use its influence to persuade Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to the recent US strikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
In an interview with Fox News, Rubio said that Beijing relies heavily on the Strait of Hormuz to secure its oil supplies, stressing the importance of China's intervention to prevent Tehran from taking a step that could lead to the closure of this vital waterway.
Rubio warned that closing the strait would be a "grave mistake" and "economic suicide" for Iran. He emphasized that the United States has multiple options for dealing with this scenario, but stressed that it is not limited to Washington's response alone, but requires a response from other countries that may be more affected.
Meanwhile, Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, announced that the bases used by US forces to launch attacks on Iranian nuclear sites "will be considered legitimate targets," reflecting an escalation in Iranian rhetoric.
China, along with Russia, North Korea, and a number of Arab countries, joined in condemning the US attacks, describing them as escalating tensions in the Middle East.