Iran Directs Houthis to Prepare Red Sea Blockade Amid US Strike Threats

Middle East — Ekhbary News Agency

Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthi rebels to ready themselves for a potential blockade of the Red Sea's crucial oil shipping lanes. This directive, as it happens, hinges on any potential US military strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure. Reuters first reported this development, citing three informed sources, detailing discussions within the Islamic Republic's leadership before the message reached the Houthis.

Houthi Preparations Underway

Sources close to the Houthi group confirmed their readiness, indicating that preparations to target commercial vessels are complete. Missiles and drones have reportedly been deployed near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital gateway to the Red Sea, positioned on Yemeni highlands overlooking Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden. The group, it would seem, awaits a direct order from representatives of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) already present in Yemen to initiate any such action. This potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait could severely exacerbate the global energy crisis, mirroring concerns previously raised about the Strait of Hormuz, by simultaneously disrupting two major oil export routes from the Middle East.