Iran warns Houthis to prepare for Bab el-Mandeb closure

Iran has reportedly instructed Yemen's Houthi movement to prepare for the possible closure of the Bab el-

TEHRAN: Iran has reportedly instructed Yemen’s Houthi movement to prepare for the possible closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the United States launches attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, according to regional and diplomatic sources.

The reported message comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between Tehran and Washington following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire. The latest developments have raised fresh concerns over the security of vital international shipping lanes and the stability of global energy markets.

According to the reports, Houthi forces have already positioned missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and are waiting for further orders before launching any operation. Sources familiar with the matter said any decision to block the waterway would be coordinated under the supervision of representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) based in Yemen.

Iranian officials and regional sources claimed that the instructions had already been delivered to the Houthi leadership. However, neither Tehran nor the Houthis have officially confirmed the reports.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime corridors. It connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as a major route for international trade, commercial shipping and global oil transportation.

Analysts warn that any disruption to the strait could have serious consequences for international trade. If the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is blocked while the Strait of Hormuz also remains affected, two of the Middle East’s most important energy export routes would face simultaneous disruption. Such a scenario could trigger significant volatility in global oil markets and further strain international supply chains.

Since Iran restricted navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, several Gulf oil exporters have increasingly relied on Red Sea shipping routes to move crude oil to international markets. This has made the Bab el-Mandeb Strait even more critical for regional and global energy security.

Energy experts estimate that nearly 7 percent of the world’s energy supplies currently pass through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. Any military action targeting commercial vessels, ports or maritime infrastructure in the area could lead to sharp increases in oil prices, higher shipping costs and delays in global trade.

The waterway has previously witnessed security threats during periods of regional conflict. Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea forced several international shipping companies to divert their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, significantly increasing transportation costs and delivery times.