Iran Allies Threaten Bab-el-Mandeb Closure
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Apr 06, 2026 · Last updated Apr 07, 2026
The threat to close the Bab-el-Mandeb, combined with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, would severely disrupt global oil and gas supplies, potentially blocking a quarter of the world's supply. This would lead to significant increases in energy prices, shipping delays, and supply chain disruptions across various industries, impacting global economic stability.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, has threatened that Iranian allies, specifically the Houthis, could shut down the Bab-el-Mandeb shipping route. This warning comes in response to US President Donald Trump's threats of military strikes on Iranian infrastructure if Iran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is a crucial waterway for global oil trade and international commerce, with 5% of global oil and 10% of global trade passing through it. Its importance has surged since Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 20% of the world's oil and gas. If both straits are disrupted, it could block up to a quarter of global oil and gas supply, creating a 'nightmare scenario' for international trade and energy markets. The Houthis have previously demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping in the Bab-el-Mandeb during the Gaza conflict, targeting vessels linked to the United States and Israel.
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