A top adviser to the Iranian leadership and former foreign minister, Ali Akbar Velayati, has warned that Tehran's allies could shut the Bab al-Mandeb shipping route as a threat to the US and Israel. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he stated that "the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz." This warning was confirmed by Iran's state-owned Press TV.

The Bab al-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial waterway for global oil trade. Its importance has increased since Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's oil and gas is shipped in peacetime. In 2024, about 4.1 billion barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products passed through Bab al-Mandeb, accounting for 5% of the global total. If both straits were shut, it would block 25% of the world's oil and gas supply.

The threats follow statements by US President Donald Trump, who allegedly threatened to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran claims that Hormuz is open to ships from all countries except the US and Israel. The Bab al-Mandeb strait is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis, who previously blocked it for ships associated with Israel or the US.

Experts warn that closing Bab al-Mandeb could severely disrupt global energy and trade flows, exacerbating the Middle East conflict and deepening economic turmoil worldwide. Middle East specialist Elisabeth Kendall described it as a "nightmare scenario." However, some analysts suggest the Houthis might avoid such action to not provoke a broader response from Saudi Arabia or the US regime.

Source: www.aljazeera.com