According to three informed sources, Iran has reportedly instructed the Houthi group in Yemen to prepare for the closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait should the United States initiate an attack on Iran's energy infrastructure. This move could potentially open a new front of escalation and threaten one of the world's most crucial maritime passages, as reported by Reuters.
The sources, which include Iranian officials and a knowledgeable insider from a regional country, stated that the idea of closing the strait was discussed within the Iranian leadership and communicated to the Houthis recently. This revelation marks the first of its kind shedding light on this direction.
The sources were unable to specify how the request was conveyed to the Houthis and did not confirm whether this came after U.S. President Donald Trump's threats on Tuesday to target Iran's energy infrastructure.
No immediate comments were issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry or the Houthi group in response to Reuters' report.
Escalating Tensions
This information comes amidst intensifying tensions between Washington and Tehran following the resumption of U.S. military operations against Iran earlier this week. On Monday, U.S. forces conducted strikes targeting command centers, air defense systems, missile capabilities, and military installations along the Iranian coasts, in an effort to reduce Iran's capacity for attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz region.
Furthermore, U.S. President Donald Trump hinted on Tuesday at expanding strikes to include Iran's energy infrastructure if Iran continues with what he described as "hostile activities."
In response, Iran announced retaliatory strikes on U.S. military sites and bases in the region, including targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan, warning that any further attacks on its territory or critical facilities would be met with a "decisive" response. Iran claims that the American actions constitute an escalation threatening regional security and stability.
Backdrop to the Escalation
Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world's most vital maritime corridors, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of global trade and oil and gas shipments flow through it between the Gulf and Europe.
The strait gained increased security significance since late 2023, when the Houthis began launching attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea, stating these acts were in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
These attacks led the United States to form a maritime coalition to protect navigation, with both Washington and London executing a series of strikes targeting Houthi positions within Yemen to curtail attacks on vessels.