US asks China to inform Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged China on Sunday to encourage Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz, following Washington's strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, Reuters reported.
Rubio's comments came after the Iranian parliament approved the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of global oil and gas flows.
'I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to approach them (Iran) about this, because they rely heavily on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil,' said the US Secretary of State, who also serves as National Security Advisor.
'If they do that, it would be another grave mistake. It would be economic suicide for them. We still have options to deal with this situation, but other countries should consider it as well. It would hurt other countries' economies far more than ours,' the US Secretary of State said, adding that that 'closing the strait would be a massive escalation that would merit a response from the US and other countries.'
A vital waterway
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important waterways. The US Energy Information Administration describes it as 'the world's most important oil transit route.'
Located between the Sultanate of Oman and Iran, it connects the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
It is the primary export route for oil producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Kuwait.
Large amounts of crude oil extracted from the oil fields for states belonging to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries – such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq – pass through the Strait of Hormuz to meet global demand.
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