Yemen — Ekhbary News Agency
Iran has reportedly instructed its Houthi allies in Yemen to prepare for a potential closure of the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This directive comes amidst renewed concerns that global oil shipping through another crucial waterway could be severely throttled, echoing previous threats regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The move follows warnings from Washington about targeting Iranian power infrastructure.
Escalating Regional Tensions
Two senior Iranian sources and one regional source informed Reuters that Tehran recently asked the Houthis to stand ready to block the Bab al-Mandeb. Another source indicated that the Yemeni militant group has already deployed missiles and drones capable of striking vessels in the Red Sea, awaiting orders for immediate action. Members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Yemen are expected to make the final decision on the timing of any closure. President Donald Trump has consistently threatened to attack Iran’s power plants and other civilian infrastructure, including bridges and desalination facilities. Ali Akbar Velayati, an adviser to Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, previously asserted in April that the "unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz."
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Potential Global Trade Disruption
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, by all accounts, serves as a critical chokepoint for petroleum exporting nations. An estimated 4.1 million barrels of petroleum products transited through the strait daily in 2024. This figure, while less than the 20 million barrels through Hormuz in 2025, remains substantial. Closure would undoubtedly disrupt global trade, particularly for oil shipments destined for Asia. Approximately 7 million barrels of oil currently reach the Saudi Arabian port of Yanbu via pipeline, subsequently passing through the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. Analysts, speaking to Politico and Al Jazeera, predict the Houthis might target ships in the strait, mirroring their recent campaigns against Israel-linked vessels in the Red Sea during the Gaza conflict. Such a move could severely escalate regional tensions and impact global energy markets.
