Global maritime security has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while Yemen’s Houthi group warned it could also shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in a dramatic escalation of regional tensions.
Iran’s elite military force said the strategic Gulf waterway had been sealed once again, accusing the United States of violating a ceasefire agreement and maintaining what it described as an unlawful blockade of Iranian ports. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage through which a significant share of the world’s oil supply flows, will remain closed until Washington lifts its restrictions, the Guard said.
The move drew a swift and forceful response from Donald Trump, who rejected Tehran’s claims and warned that the United States would not be coerced. He accused Iran of attempting to “blackmail” Washington by leveraging its geographic control over one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.
As tensions mounted in the Gulf, fears of a wider disruption intensified following a stark warning from a senior Houthi official in Yemen. Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister in the Houthi administration in Sanaa, said the Iran-aligned group could shut the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if US policies in the region continued to undermine what he called efforts towards peace.
In a strongly worded statement, al-Ezzi suggested that no force would be capable of reopening the waterway if it were closed, urging Washington and its allies to change course and respect the rights of the Yemeni people. The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is another vital artery for global commerce, handling large volumes of oil shipments and trade between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Any disruption there would compound the impact of a Hormuz shutdown, sending shockwaves through already strained supply chains and likely pushing energy prices sharply higher. The twin flashpoints highlight the growing risk of maritime chokepoints being weaponised amid deepening confrontation between Iran, the United States and their respective allies.
The Houthis have already demonstrated their ability to disrupt shipping in the Red Sea through previous attacks, forcing many vessels to take longer and more costly routes around Africa. With both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb under threat, the prospect of simultaneous disruptions has heightened concerns among global markets and security analysts.