diplomacyMonday, May 4, 20262 sources

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Urges China to Help Open Strait of Hormuz

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on China to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, asserting that the US has 'absolute control' over the strategic waterway. Bessent implied that China's energy purchases from Iran fund Tehran's activities. The remarks came amid heightened tensions over the strait's closure.

On May 4, 2026, Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary, stated during a Fox News interview that the US has 'absolute control' of the Strait of Hormuz and urged China to 'step up' with diplomacy to get Iran to reopen the strait. Bessent claimed that China purchases 90% of Iran's energy, which he implied funds Iran's activities. The remarks were reported by Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post.

Timelines

Sources

IndependentSouth China Morning PostMay 4, 09:42 PM
US’ Bessent urges China to help open Strait of Hormuz

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...

IndependentAl JazeeraMay 4, 07:55 PM
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.