After blocking Hormuz, Iran signals it could ramp up pressure and shut Red Sea gateway

Iran is signaling a potential escalation of pressure by threatening to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital Red Sea gateway, through its Houthi allies in Yemen, in addition to the already disrupted Strait of Hormuz. This move, according to analysts, aims to widen the conflict and increase pressure on Washington by jeopardizing global trade and energy supplies beyond the Gulf.

Mohammed al-Farah, a member of the political bureau of Ansarullah, the Houthi movement, warned, "If the current situation aggravates, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Strait of Hormuz will be closed in an operational alliance. Oil prices would then skyrocket to $200 a barrel in a dreadful shock."

The Houthis have previously demonstrated their capability to disrupt Red Sea shipping following the October 7 Hamas massacre, leading to rerouted vessels and international military responses. Analysts suggest that while an immediate all-out war is less likely, this represents a dangerous "mission creep" that could force negotiations between Washington and Tehran.