Iran's Warning: Houthi Forces Prepare to Block Bab al-Mandeb Strait Amid US Tensions
Iran's Directive to Houthi Allies
Iran has reportedly instructed its Houthi allies in Yemen to be ready to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the United States targets Iran's energy infrastructure, according to two senior Iranian officials and a regional source cited by a news agency. Another source indicated that the Houthis have already deployed missiles and drones capable of targeting vessels in the Red Sea, awaiting orders to initiate attacks. Members of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stationed in Yemen will determine the timing for closing this crucial maritime route.
These developments come in the wake of President Donald Trump's repeated threats to strike Iranian power plants and other civilian facilities, including bridges and desalination plants. Although Iran does not border the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, Yemen does, and Tehran has strong ties with the Houthis, who have previously targeted vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea in response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Earlier this week, the Houthis retaliated against Saudi Arabia by launching missiles after accusing the kingdom of conducting an airstrike on an airport in Sana'a. The group has also targeted military sites in Israel during the ongoing conflict.
Iran has publicly associated the Bab al-Mandeb Strait with the Strait of Hormuz. In an English-language post on social media in April, Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, stated that the "Resistance front" regards the Bab al-Mandeb Strait with the same significance as Hormuz. He cautioned that if the U.S. government repeats what he termed "foolish mistakes," it could lead to disruptions in global energy supplies and trade with a single action.
Significance of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is recognized as one of the most vital maritime trade routes globally, serving as a crucial passage for oil and natural gas shipments. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, approximately 4.1 million barrels of petroleum products traversed the strait daily in 2024. This waterway also serves as an essential alternative export route for oil producers, with around 7 million barrels transported via pipeline to the Saudi Arabian Red Sea port of Yanbu before being shipped through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
The renewed concerns regarding the strait arise just days after Saudi Arabia restored its pipeline to prewar pumping levels of about 7 million barrels per day, following previous attacks believed to involve Iranian missiles and drones. Should the Bab al-Mandeb Strait be closed, it could significantly disrupt another major global energy chokepoint, impacting oil and natural gas shipments in the region.