US official says China is ‘funding’ Iran, urges Beijing to help open Hormuz

Scott Bessent says US has ‘absolute control’ of Hormuz, but calls on China to ‘step up’ with diplomacy to reopen strait.United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has accused China of “funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism”, referring to Iran, saying that Beijing should help Washington in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.Bessent’s blunt criticism of China’s relations with Iran on Monday comes ahead of US President Donald Trump’s expected visit to Beijing next week, where he is set to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Iran warns US to stay out of Hormuz after Trump says US will ‘guide’ shipslist 2 of 3Iran war: What’s happening on day 66 as Trump announces Hormuz mission?list 3 of 3Trump’s ‘Project Freedom’: Can US navy ‘guide’ stuck ships out of Hormuz?end of list“Iran is the largest state sponsor of terrorism, and China has been buying 90 percent of their energy, so they are funding the largest state sponsor of terrorism,” Bessent told Fox News.Despite the accusation, the US official called on Beijing to join Washington in its campaign to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran.“The attacks from Iran have closed the strait. We are reopening it. So I would urge the Chinese to join us in supporting this international operation,” Bessent said.Trump had announced on Sunday that the US would “guide” ships stranded in Hormuz out of the strait, warning Iran against interfering with the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom”.Bessent said the US is saying that the Iranians “do not have control” of Hormuz. “We have absolute control of the strait,” he added.Still, the secretary of the US Treasury suggested that China should use its leverage over Iran to help resolve the crisis. “Let’s see them step up with some diplomacy and get the Iranians to open the strait,” he said.Trump’s ‘maximum pressure’Bessent also noted that China and Russia have vetoed efforts to condemn the Iranian blockade of Hormuz at the United Nations Security Council.