Iran signals it could shut Red Sea gatewayRed Sea gateway using Houthi allies
Iran signaled on July 14 it could use Yemen's Houthi allies to shut the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea after choking shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, opening a new front against Washington and threatening two vital energy routes.
This move matters because it could disrupt global oil supplies and escalate tensions between Iran and the United States in the coming weeks.
Western Media
Western media outlets frame Iran's move as an escalation of its strategy to disrupt global energy flows, describing the potential shutdown of Bab el-Mandeb as a dangerous escalation against Washington and a threat to international shipping.
Iranian Perspective
Iranian sources view the potential use of Houthi allies to control Bab el-Mandeb as a legitimate defensive measure to pressure the United States and protect national interests, arguing it is a response to decades of Western hostility.
- The Red Sea has historically been a key route for trade between Europe and Asia since ancient times.
- Houthi forces first gained international prominence in 2015 during the Yemen civil war.
- Over 10% of global oil trade passes through the Bab el-Mandeb annually.
US-Iran-Israel War
The United States and Israel have resumed full-scale war with Iran after President Trump declared the June 17 Versailles peace agreement's ceasefire over on July 8, following Iranian attacks on commercial ships and U.S. bases in the Gulf. Trump launched massive new airstrikes on 90 military sites across Iran, including the Bushehr nuclear plant, while Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, trapping 150–700 vessels and halting over 11 million barrels per day of Gulf crude.
14 July, 02:20 PM
Iran signals it could shut Red Sea gateway using Houthi allies14 July, 09:01 AM
Iran and US exchange fresh strikes near the Strait of Hormuz
