Iran Warns of Bab al-Mandab Strait Closure After Hormuz Blockade Escalation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that it could target other major maritime routes after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the return of a US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The IRGC said regional energy exports would be “for everyone or for no one,” suggesting that routes used by the United States and its allies could also face restrictions.
Analysts said Iran could rely on its allies in Yemen, including the Houthis, to threaten the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Any disruption there could affect global trade and energy shipments.
A senior Houthi official previously warned that the group could close Bab al-Mandab if Saudi Arabia continued attacks on Yemen, potentially pushing oil prices sharply higher.
The IRGC also said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed until US actions end, while claiming it had targeted US Fifth Fleet-related facilities in Bahrain.
