Reuters: Iran asks Houthis to be ready to block Red Sea oil route
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to be ready to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait if the United States strikes Iranian energy infrastructure, three sources told Reuters on Thursday. The Houthis have completed preparations for attacks on vessels and await orders, the sources said on condition of anonymity.
The Request
Iran has asked the Houthis to be ready to block the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea, if the United States strikes Iranian energy infrastructure, according to three sources cited by Reuters. Two senior Iranian officials and a regional source said the idea was discussed within Iran's leadership and conveyed to the Houthis. A source close to the Houthis said the group has completed preparations, positioning missiles and drones near the strait, and awaits an order to begin operations.
Energy Route Impact
Any Houthi attacks on vessels or ports in the Red Sea would simultaneously disrupt two key Middle Eastern oil export routes, as the Strait of Hormuz is already closed, according to Reuters. About 7% of global energy supplies now pass through the Saudi pipeline that redirects Persian Gulf oil to the Red Sea. The closure would open a new front in both the energy crisis and the broader Iran-US conflict.
Escalation with Saudi Arabia
Amid the escalation, the Houthis fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, accusing the kingdom of bombing an airport under their control, breaking a four-year truce. The attack marks a significant deterioration in regional stability.
What's Next
The Houthis await an order from Tehran to begin operations, which could come if the US strikes Iranian energy infrastructure. It remains unclear whether the US will take such action or if diplomatic channels can de-escalate the situation.
2 sources
Reuters: Iran asks Houthis to be ready to block Red Sea oil route
