Iran Threatens Red Sea Shipping Route if U.S. Strikes Power Grid

Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthi movement to be ready to shut the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the gateway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, if the United States launches strikes against Iranian power infrastructure, according to multiple sources cited by Reuters. The directive marks a potential escalation in the regional confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Iran-backed groups across the Middle East. The Bab el-Mandeb is a critical route for oil shipments and international trade linking Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal.

The reported order comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain elevated following recent military exchanges and disputes over Iran's energy and nuclear infrastructure. Sources said Houthi forces have positioned missiles and drones near the strategic waterway and are prepared to target shipping if instructed by Iranian authorities. Analysts say a closure of the strait would compound existing concerns over maritime security in the region, especially after Iran's earlier actions involving the Strait of Hormuz, another major corridor for global energy exports.