By Jasper Ward WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday called on China to encourage Iran to not shut down the Strait of Hormuz after Washington carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

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,