Chinese officials are putting pressure on their Iranian counterparts to assist in getting the Houthis to stop their attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, Reuters reports.

Beijing has threatened to limit trade between China and Iran if Tehran doesn’t comply, according to the report, which quotes four anonymous Iranian sources and a diplomat close to the issue.

“Basically, China says: ‘If our interests are harmed in any way, it will impact our business with Tehran. So tell the Houthis to show restraint’,” one Iranian official said.

Financial Times also reported that the US has repeatedly asked China to leverage its position to help stop attacks in the vital waterway, through which about 13 percent of global shipping moves.