United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to use its influence with Iran to discourage any move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such an action would severely disrupt global trade and energy supplies.

Rubio made the appeal during an interview as tensions in the Middle East continued to raise concerns over the security of one of the world’s most important maritime routes. He noted that Beijing has considerable leverage with Tehran because of its economic relationship with the Islamic Republic and should encourage restraint.

According to the U.S. Secretary of State, any attempt to block the strategic waterway would have consequences that extend far beyond the region, affecting countries that rely on the uninterrupted flow of oil and commercial shipping.

Speaking on the issue, Rubio said:

“I encourage the Chinese government in Beijing to call them about that, because they heavily depend on the Strait of Hormuz for their oil.”

He also cautioned that Iran would suffer serious consequences if it attempted to close the waterway, arguing that such a decision would amount to a major escalation with global economic implications.

Rubio added:

“It would be another terrible mistake. It’s economic suicide for them if they do it, and we retain options to deal with that.”

The U.S. official stressed that while the United States has the capability to respond to any disruption, many other countries would also be significantly affected because of their dependence on the vital shipping lane.

His remarks come amid heightened international concern over developments in the Gulf, with governments and energy markets closely monitoring the situation because of the Strait of Hormuz’s critical role in transporting a substantial share of the world’s oil exports.