Lead

Iran has told Yemen’s Houthi movement to be ready to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea, if the United States attacks Iranian power infrastructure, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters. The request, which has not been previously reported, was conveyed to the Houthis after discussions within Iran’s leadership, the sources said. The development underscores the potential for a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, threatening global energy supplies.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is a narrow waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, through which a substantial share of global shipping and Saudi oil exports pass. Analysts say Iran is signaling it could use its Houthi allies to shut the strait, opening a new front against Washington and putting at risk two of the world’s most vital energy arteries—the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Coverage Comparison

The reports about Iran’s request to the Houthis come from multiple sources, each offering slightly different details and perspectives.

Al Jazeera reported that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to turn the Bab al-Mandeb Strait into its next front in the war with the United States, highlighting the strait’s importance as a global shipping artery linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. The outlet framed the threat as part of the conflict escalation but maintained a neutral tone.

Fox News, citing Reuters, said Iran has instructed “Yemen’s Houthi terrorists” to prepare to close the Red Sea gateway if the US attacks Iranian power infrastructure. Fox News quoted an expert warning that the threat should be taken seriously, and noted that Houthis have deployed missiles and drones near the waterway. Fox’s framing was alarmist, using loaded terms like “terrorists” and emphasizing the threat to global energy supplies.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran is signaling it could use the Houthis to shut the Bab el-Mandeb, linking this to possible US strikes on Iranian power infrastructure. It noted that a senior Yemeni official warned that the country’s armed forces were prepared to close the strait if Saudi Arabia continued to attack Yemen. Another Jerusalem Post piece reported that Iran has flown IRGC commanders, military advisers, and missile and drone-related equipment into Yemen on a flight from Tehran, indicating Iran’s intent to strengthen Houthi capabilities.

The South China Morning Post reported that Iran’s IRGC has threatened to close “all other export corridors that benefit the US and its allies” and that Iran had shut the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts quoted by the outlet said Iran has been signaling it may use its Houthi allies to shut Bab el-Mandeb, adding that a senior Houthi official warned the group could close the strait if Saudi attacks continue.

Similarly, The Hindu, citing Reuters, reported Iran’s request to the Houthis and that Houthis had deployed drones near the strait. It also noted that representatives of the IRGC already in Yemen would control the decision on when to close the strait.

The framing varies: Fox News and some Jerusalem Post articles emphasize the threat of Iranian aggression, while South China Morning Post and The Hindu present the news in a more neutral manner, with some suggesting a responsive to US actions.

Key Claims

  • Iran’s request to the Houthis: Three sources told Reuters that Iran has asked the Houthis to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure. The message has been conveyed to the group, with two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter confirming the development.
  • Houthi preparedness: A source close to the Houthis said the group had completed preparations to attack shipping by deploying missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, in Yemen’s highlands overlooking Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden, and was awaiting orders to begin.
  • IRGC control: The same source said that representatives of the IRGC already in Yemen will control the decision on when to close the strait.
  • Deployment of IRGC personnel: According to four sources, Iran flew IRGC commanders, military advisers, and missile and drone-related equipment into Yemen in mid-July, including on a Mahan Air flight that diverted to Hodeidah after an attack on Sanaa’s airport. The IRGC personnel were reportedly sent to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems.
  • Previous Iranian actions: Iran had already shut the Strait of Hormuz, and the US reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, with the IRGC warning that “regional energy exports are either shared by all, or denied to all.”
  • Houthi warning: A senior Houthi official warned that the group would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if Saudi Arabia continued to attack Yemen, which could send oil prices soaring to $200 a barrel, as reported by Iran’s Press TV.
  • Impact on global shipping: The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is critical, as it connects the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, and a substantial volume of Gulf oil has been redirected to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, making the strait a major chokepoint.

Perspectives

Iranian Perspective

Iran has not publicly commented on the request to the Houthis, but its IRGC has threatened to close export corridors that benefit the US and its allies. This signals Iran’s willingness to expand its pressure points, using its Houthi allies to disrupt Red Sea shipping as a countermeasure against US strikes.

Houthi Perspective

A senior Houthi official warned that the group is prepared to close the strait if Saudi Arabia continues its attacks, emphasizing that such a move could cause oil prices to spike. The Houthis have also demonstrated their ability to attack shipping and have already deployed missiles and drones in the region.

US and Allied Perspective

Experts and officials quoted in the reports, such as a former British ambassador to Yemen, warned that a full resumption of the Houthi maritime campaign could trigger wider fighting. US officials have not commented on the specific request, but the threat is seen as a serious escalation that could disrupt global shipping and energy markets.