Iran directs Houthis to close Red Sea strait if US attacks power grid, sources say
Iran has instructed the Houthi group in Yemen to prepare to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical oil shipping route in the Red Sea, should the United States attack Iran's energy infrastructure. This directive was conveyed to the Yemeni rebels, who are considered allies within Iran's regional "Axis of Resistance." According to sources familiar with the matter, the Houthis have completed preparations to target vessels and have deployed missiles and drones near the strait, awaiting orders to initiate an attack. Representatives from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), already present in Yemen, will reportedly oversee the decision to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This potential closure, coupled with the already blocked Strait of Hormuz, would simultaneously disrupt two major Middle Eastern oil export routes, escalating the energy crisis and the broader conflict between Iran and the U.S. The U.S. alleges that Iran provides weapons, funding, and training to the Houthis, which Tehran denies. Recent U.S. military actions on Wednesday, April 15th, targeted Iranian facilities near the Strait of Hormuz and on Iran's Greater Tunb island, resulting in the deaths of seven Iranian soldiers. In response, Iran's Revolutionary Guard threatened to obstruct other global shipping routes that benefit the U.S., stating that oil and gas exports from the region would be for all or none. The Iranian regime maintains that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.
This situation highlights the escalating geopolitical tensions and the strategic use of vital maritime chokepoints as leverage in international disputes. The potential closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by Houthi forces, acting under Iranian direction, represents a significant escalation, threatening global energy supply chains and international trade. This move underscores the complex web of proxy relationships and the interconnectedness of regional conflicts, where actions in one theater can have far-reaching consequences. The Iranian regime's threat to disrupt global oil exports reflects a strategy of asymmetric warfare, aiming to inflict economic pain on adversaries by leveraging control over critical infrastructure. Looking ahead, such actions raise concerns about the long-term stability of global trade routes and the potential for further fragmentation of international economic systems, particularly in an era increasingly defined by technological competition and resource scarcity.
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