U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday called on China to intervene diplomatically with Iran to help prevent the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran’s parliament unanimously voted in favor of shutting down the critical oil transit chokepoint in retaliation for recent U.S. airstrikes.
“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Straits of Hormuz for their oil,” Rubio said in a Fox News interview, urging China to use its economic influence over Tehran. China is Iran’s largest oil customer and maintains close political and economic ties with the Islamic Republic.
The appeal comes amid escalating tensions following U.S. strikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear facilities over the weekend. In response, Iran’s foreign minister declared that the country “reserves all options to defend its sovereignty,” while Iranian state media reported that lawmakers had backed a resolution to shut down the Strait of Hormuz — though the final decision rests with Iran’s national security council.
Global Oil at Risk
Roughly 20 million barrels of oil — about 20% of global daily consumption — pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that serves as a lifeline for global energy markets. Any disruption could send shockwaves through the global economy.
Oil prices spiked over 2% following the news, and analysts from Goldman Sachs and Rapidan Energy warn that crude could soar past $100 per barrel if the strait is closed for any meaningful period.
“It would be a self-inflicted wound,” said Matt Smith, lead oil analyst at Kpler. “Cutting off the Strait would block Iran’s own crude exports to China — their biggest customer.”
Iran exported 1.84 million barrels per day in May, with the majority shipped to China. According to Kpler data, nearly half of China’s seaborne oil imports come from the Persian Gulf — much of it through the threatened waterway.
Military Standoff Looms
The U.S. Fifth Fleet, stationed in Bahrain, is responsible for safeguarding navigation in the Persian Gulf. While some market participants believe the Navy could quickly neutralize any Iranian attempt to block the strait, others warn of a longer disruption.
“It would not be a cakewalk,” said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy. “Shipping could be interrupted for weeks or even months.”
Eurasia Group analysts caution that while a full blockade is unlikely, increased Iranian harassment of tankers is expected. “A move to close Hormuz would be an effective declaration of war against the Gulf states and the U.S.,” said senior analyst Gregory Brew, adding that Iran’s weakened economic position may deter full-scale escalation.
U.S. Signals Readiness but Pushes for Diplomacy
Rubio emphasized that the U.S. retains military options to respond if necessary, but stressed that the consequences would be dire for Iran itself. “It would be economic suicide,” he said. “It would hurt other countries’ economies a lot worse than ours.”
Vice President J.D. Vance echoed Rubio’s warning, telling NBC’s Meet the Press that Iran’s economy depends on the Strait. “If they want to destroy their own economy and cause global disruptions, that would be their decision — but it would be a catastrophic one,” he said.
As oil markets brace for the opening bell, traders are watching closely for signs of escalation. Brent crude could jump significantly from its Friday close of $77.01 per barrel if the threat materializes.
