Iran is preparing a new blow to global trade — Reuters

Iran has asked the Yemeni Houthi movement to be prepared to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea should the United States launch an attack on Iran’s energy infrastructure. Reuters reported this, citing sources familiar with the situation.

According to the agency’s sources, the issue of a possible blockade of the strait has already been discussed by Iran’s leadership. Following this, a corresponding message was conveyed to Tehran’s allies—the Yemeni Houthis.

The Houthis have declared their readiness to act

One source close to the Houthis told Reuters that the group has already completed preparations for possible attacks on ships. According to the source, missiles and drones have been deployed in the mountainous regions of Yemen near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. From there, they can control the waters off Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden.

The agency’s source claims that the Houthis are currently just awaiting orders to launch the operation. According to Reuters, the decision on a possible blockade of the strait will be overseen by representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who are already on Yemeni territory.

Why is this strait so important?

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of global maritime traffic passes through it, including tankers carrying oil and liquefied natural gas, as well as merchant ships traveling to or from the Suez Canal. That is why any disruption to this route could seriously impact global trade and the energy market.

Analysts note that if problems arise simultaneously in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, this could drastically complicate energy supplies and lead to another spike in global oil prices.

Tensions in the region are rising

According to Reuters, the situation in the Middle East continues to escalate. Houthi missile strikes on Saudi Arabian territory have signaled a new wave of tension. Representatives of the group stated that this was a response to the bombing of an airport under their control.

So far, no official decision to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has been announced. At the same time, Reuters reports that Iran and its allies are already considering this option as a possible response in the event of further escalation of the conflict with the U.S. “Any threat to the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could significantly exacerbate the situation on the global energy market,” Reuters’ sources noted.

If this scenario were to unfold, the consequences could be felt not only by countries in the Middle East but also by the global economy as a whole, as the Bab el-Mandeb Strait remains one of the world’s key maritime transport corridors. Reuters reports this, citing its own sources.

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