After Strait of Hormuz, Iran turns to Bab el-Mandeb as new pressure point – analysis

Iran is reportedly signaling its intent to use its Houthi proxies in Yemen to potentially close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. This move, following previous disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, would open a new front against Washington and threaten two vital global energy arteries. A Houthi official warned that if Saudi Arabia continues attacks on Yemen, both Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz could be closed, potentially sending oil prices to "$200 a barrel in a dreadful shock." Analysts suggest this escalation aims to increase pressure on Washington by extending threats to global trade and energy supplies beyond the Gulf, with Middle East scholar Fawaz Gerges stating, "Iran is willing to go all the way." The Houthis have a history of attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea, as seen after October 2023, which led to rerouted vessels and international military responses. Experts believe Iran would only deploy this "nuclear option" if a return to all-out war becomes unavoidable, but intensified US strikes on Iran could prompt such a response.