Iran said it could use Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if U.S. naval blockades continue [1].
The threat targets one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Because the strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, any closure would disrupt the flow of global energy markets and international trade.
Iran said the potential move is a response to continued U.S. naval actions [2]. By expanding its campaign against shipping, Tehran aims to increase pressure on Washington. This strategy follows previous efforts to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz [3].
Reports indicate that Iran is signaling a shift in its tactical approach to maritime pressure. According to a Reuters report, Iran said that its campaign to throttle global energy markets could be expanded from the Strait of Hormuz to the vital Red Sea route if U.S. attacks continue [4].
The Bab el-Mandeb gateway is a narrow waterway that serves as a primary artery for oil, and commercial goods. The involvement of the Houthis would allow Iran to project power far beyond its own borders, creating a second front of maritime instability.
Another Reuters report said that after choking off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is now signaling it could play its most dangerous card yet: using Yemen's Houthi allies to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea [5].
Tehran has not specified a timeline for these actions but has framed the possibility as a direct consequence of U.S. military presence and blockade operations in the region [2].
“Iran warned it could use Houthi allies in Yemen to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait”
This escalation represents a strategic expansion of Iran's 'gray zone' warfare. By leveraging the Houthis to threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Iran is attempting to create a dual-chokepoint crisis involving both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. This would give Tehran significant leverage over global oil prices and shipping costs, potentially forcing the U.S. to reconsider its naval blockade and regional military posture to avoid a global economic shock.
