• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Iran asks Houthis to close Red Sea oil route.
  2. Conditioned on US attack on Iran's power infrastructure.
  3. Houthis prepare missiles near Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Amid renewed tensions, Iran has reportedly asked Yemen’s Houthi group to be prepared to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States attacks Iran’s power infrastructure. The move, if implemented, can create a fresh threat to global energy supplies by disrupting another major route used for oil shipments.

Iran Sends Message To Houthi Allies

According to news agency Reuters report, citing two senior Iranian sources and a regional source familiar with the matter, Tehran has recently conveyed the message to its Houthi allies. The report states that the idea of blocking the Red Sea route has been widely discussed among Iran’s leadership. The sources stated that the Houthis were informed about Iran’s request, but they did not provide details about how the message was delivered or whether it came after US President Donald Trump’s warning to target Iranian power facilities.

ALSO READ: US Carries Out First Daylight Offensive, Strikes Iranian Military Sites Near Strait Of Hormuz

Houthis Prepare Near Key Red Sea Gateway

Additionally, a source close to the Houthis, told Reuters, the group has completed preparations to attack ships by placing missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a key shipping route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The source added that the weapons were positioned in Yemen’s highlands overlooking areas near Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden, and the group was waiting for further orders.

Threat To Global Oil Supply Routes

While there has been no official confirmation from both sides, the move, if carried out, can further worsen the global energy crisis at a time when the Strait of Hormuz already faces disruption. Any attack on shipping in the Red Sea can disrupt one of the world’s key trade and oil transportation routes. The Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait are crucial waterways for international commerce. Disruption on these routes can lead to supply delays, higher shipping costs and pressure on global oil supplies

Countries that depend on oil shipments passing through the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including India, China, Japan, South Korea and several European nations, can face disruptions.

About Red Sea Route

The Red Sea is a seawater inlet located between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula in West Asia. It is bordered by Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea on the western side, while Saudi Arabia and Yemen lie on its eastern side. It connects to the Mediterranean Sea through the Suez Canal in the north and opens into the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the south.

ALSO READ: 'Not Bound By MoUs': Iran Defies Peace Deal After US Airstrike, Threatens To Halt All Energy Exports From Middle East

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