Reuters: Iran asked Houthis to close Red Sea in event of potential US attack

It has been alleged that the intensifying conflict between the US and Iran could soon spill over into the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The UK-based news agency Reuters claimed that Iranian officials have called on the Houthis in Yemen to close oil trade routes in the Red Sea should the US launch a potential attack on Iran's energy infrastructure.

Three unnamed sources who spoke to Reuters claimed that the plan in question was discussed within the Iranian leadership and that the message was conveyed to the pro-Iranian Houthis. While the sources did not provide any details on how the message was delivered, it was not stated whether the situation is linked to the threat made by US President Donald Trump to the Iranian side last Tuesday.

A source close to the Houthis claimed that representatives of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Yemen would make the final decision on whether to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Another source close to the Houthis claimed that preparations for attacks on maritime shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait have been completed. The source argued that the Houthis have deployed missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to high ground near the Port of Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden in Yemen and are awaiting orders to initiate attacks.

"Spillover of conflict into the Red Sea will threaten the only significant alternative for oil exports"

It is predicted that closing the Red Sea to maritime shipping would have a major impact on global trade and world markets. Torbjorn Solvedt, a Middle East risk analyst at the UK-based global risk analysis and strategic consulting firm Verisk Maplecroft, touched upon the recently rising tension between Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Underlining that these developments come at a bad time, Solvedt stated, "An escalation of the conflict and its spillover into Red Sea export infrastructure and maritime shipping would threaten the only significant alternative route for oil exports in the region."

According to various sources, potential Houthi attacks on ships or ports in the Red Sea could cause disruptions in two main routes used for Middle Eastern oil exports simultaneously. It is believed that this situation could both open a new front in the energy crisis and turn the conflicts between Iran and the US into a much broader confrontation.

"Saudi Arabia takes threats seriously"

Two local sources close to the Riyadh administration stated that Saudi Arabia takes the threats originating from Iran and the Houthis extremely seriously, claiming that Riyadh is aware that the Houthis are acting in close cooperation with Iran in the Red Sea.

Another local source assessed that the Tehran administration aims to put pressure on the US by raising global energy prices. The source argued that within the framework of what they described as an "Iranian strategy," Tehran plans to target maritime shipping in the Red Sea and Saudi Arabia's oil exports in the region.

The source also argued that closing the Bab al-Mandab Strait would not be difficult, stating, "Anyone with a firearm can stop maritime shipping. You don't need advanced missile systems to block shipments."

Strait of Hormuz had been closed to maritime shipping

Following the date of February 28, when the US and Israel launched their joint attacks on Iran, the Tehran administration closed the Strait of Hormuz, which was seen as the main transit route for approximately one-fifth of the global oil supply before the war, to maritime shipping.

After the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a significant portion of the oil produced in the Gulf was diverted to the Red Sea via pipelines belonging to Saudi Arabia. For this reason, it is estimated that approximately 7 percent of the global energy supply is currently being transported via the Red Sea.

Experts, noting that Saudi Arabia carries out approximately 70 percent of its energy exports through the Yanbu Port on the Red Sea coast, state that any direct attack targeting maritime shipping in the region could lead to sharp rises in oil prices.

Houthis had previously targeted maritime shipping

The Houthis had carried out attacks targeting maritime shipping in the Red Sea following the start of Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip in 2023. In this context, while ships alleged to have links to Israel were targeted, various sources reported that some ships with no direct connection to Israel were also affected by the attacks.

Following the attacks, many major shipping companies preferred to use longer and more costly routes around the southern tip of the African continent instead of the Red Sea route due to security concerns.

News Source: 12punto