China in touch with Yemen's Houthis to allow ships to sail through Red Sea, sources say

Beijing is seeking to keep oil exports flowing from Saudi Arabia's Red Sea terminals, principally Yanbu, to help plug the gap in supplies caused by Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz at the exit from the Gulf.

China's transport ministry, the Houthis' media office and Iran's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At least four tankers have loaded crude from Saudi ports bound for China and transited Bab el-Mandeb since the Houthis announced their restrictions, according to Kpler analysis and LSEG and MarineTraffic ship tracking data.

Chinese officials have cleared each vessel individually with the Houthis, one of the sources said, and both sides have informed Iran of their actions, two officials in the region briefed by Tehran told Reuters.

The Houthis have told international shipping companies in an email that vessels may be attacked if they load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports.