Reuters has reported that, according to Iranian and regional sources, Tehran has requested the Houthi group in Yemen to prepare for a potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This move is said to be conditional on the U.S. proceeding with threats to target Iran’s electrical infrastructure.
The report indicates that Iranian leadership discussed this proposal recently before informing the Houthis, though the specific method and timing of the communication were not disclosed.
This comes in the wake of threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to target Iranian power facilities, escalating ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran.
A source close to the Houthis indicated that the group has heightened its readiness, deploying missiles and drones in strategic locations overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the highlands of Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden, awaiting execution orders.
The source also alleged the presence of Iranian Revolutionary Guard representatives in Yemen, saying they would determine the timing of any decision related to the strait’s closure.
Reuters pointed out that any disruption of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, alongside the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, could cause extensive global energy trade disruptions given the significance of these passages in facilitating the transport of oil and goods between East and West.
In a related development, the Houthis launched missiles toward Saudi Arabia after accusing the Kingdom of bombing an airport under Houthi control, highlighting the escalating regional tensions.
According to a senior analyst of Middle Eastern affairs at Verisk Maplecroft, any escalation affecting Red Sea export and shipping infrastructure would threaten the most critical alternative route for the region’s oil exports, potentially exacerbating the global energy crisis.
Regional sources close to Riyadh signaled that Saudi Arabia is taking the Iranian threats and Houthi actions seriously, amid assessments pointing to close coordination between both parties concerning Red Sea security.
This development occurs amidst continuing military escalation between the U.S. and Iran following the breakdown of a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of reciprocal strikes, raising increasing concerns over the potential widening of the confrontation to include strategic maritime pathways that directly affect global trade and oil supply.