Treasury chief says Beijing’s energy buys fund ‘top sponsor of terrorism’, urges action as US asserts ‘absolute control’ over waterway
2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenDewey Simin WashingtonPublished: 1:42am, 5 May 2026Updated: 1:44am, 5 May 2026US 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 terrorism.”
Asked whether the situation in Iran complicated the visit, the Treasury chief only said Trump has “exchanged correspondence” with Chinese President Xi Jinping about the conflict and that the leaders’ summit would offer the chance for both sides to trade views in person.
“We’ve had great stability in the relationship and again, that comes from the two leaders having great respect for each other,” he said.
