Iran Signals Bab el-Mandeb Closure: Houthis Ready Strait Blockade as Hormuz Remains Shut, Dual-Strait Crisis Risk

Iranian officials, while keeping the Strait of Hormuz — the heart of global oil trade — closed, signalled a new move through allied Houthi forces. The statement said the Houthis in Yemen would also close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the gateway to the Red Sea.

The development raises the prospect of two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints going down simultaneously. The threat of dual-strait closures has rattled global markets, with analysts warning of sharp oil-price spikes. A blockage on both the Persian Gulf and Red Sea corridors would not only paralyse energy shipping but also the broader trade flow between Asia and Europe.

Iranian MP and National Security Commission member Ali Hazrian said the Yemen Armed Forces had recently conducted Bab el-Mandeb blockade exercises and finalised closure preparations. The statement followed the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden — and thus the Indian Ocean — and is one of the world's most critical chokepoints for trade and energy security. Serving as the main gateway for Europe-Asia seaborne traffic via the Suez Canal, the strait carries roughly 10% of global crude oil trade. Geopolitically positioned between the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, any blockage there could deliver major disruptions to global supply chains and sharp swings in energy prices.

Key Takeaways:
1. Iran says Yemen's Houthis are preparing to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
2. Ali Hazrian (Iranian MP, National Security Commission): Houthi blockade exercises are complete.
3. Hormuz remains shut; if Bab el-Mandeb also closes, a dual-strait crisis materialises.
4. Bab el-Mandeb carries roughly 10% of global crude oil trade.
5. It is the main gateway for Europe-Asia seaborne trade via Suez; a blockage would heavily disrupt the supply chain.

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