Three sources informed Reuters that Iran has requested that the Houthi movement in Yemen prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait in the Red Sea. According to the sources, this action is intended as a retaliatory measure should the United States conduct strikes against Iranian power infrastructure. This reported instruction follows recent statements from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding potential targets in Iran.
A source close to the Houthi movement stated that the group has already positioned drones and missiles in Yemeni highlands overlooking the shipping lane. The source further claimed that representatives of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps currently in Yemen would coordinate the timing of any potential closure. Iranian and Houthi officials have not yet officially responded to requests for comment on these reports.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait currently handles approximately 7% of global energy supplies, including redirected Saudi Arabian oil following the previous closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Regional analysts indicate that a disruption in the Red Sea would affect the primary remaining export route for Middle Eastern oil. Saudi Arabian sources stated the kingdom is monitoring the situation and believes the Houthis are coordinating closely with Tehran.