US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on China to prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important shipping routes. His comments came after Iran's state-run Press TV reported that their parliament had approved a plan to close the Strait but added that the final decision lies with the Supreme National Security Council.

China called for stability for shipping routes in the Middle East after Iran said Sunday its parliament voted to close the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, which lies between Iran and Oman, is a key passageway for oil to flow to China,

The Straits are the only sea route from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, and about 20% of the world's oil transits the waterway.