Iran Threatens To Close Bab al-Mandab Strait If US Attacks Energy Infrastructure

Iran has ordered the Houthi rebels in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait if the United States attacks energy infrastructure, according to a Reuters report on July 17, 2026. This strategic waterway is a vital global shipping route, with about 20% of the world's container traffic passing through it en route to the Suez Canal, and it handles around six million barrels of oil daily, mostly Saudi crude. Closing the strait could severely disrupt the global economy and energy markets.

Representatives of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are already present in Yemen, and the Houthis have deployed missiles and drones overlooking the strait and the port of Hodeidah, preparing for potential escalation. The Houthis have vowed to target Saudi Arabia's energy and critical infrastructure if the kingdom intensifies its military campaign against them, following recent Saudi attacks and renewed fighting.

This threat follows Iran's recent warning that it will halt oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz if US strikes continue. Iran's strategy relies on two main deterrents: damaging energy infrastructure across the Gulf and blocking Bab al-Mandab. Iranian officials have declared a policy of "energy for all or none," signaling their readiness to inflict widespread damage if attacked.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait is considered a critical chokepoint, especially after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran aims to leverage this to pressure global commodity markets and counter US and Saudi actions in the region. The situation raises concerns about escalating conflict risks and potential disruptions to global energy supplies and trade routes.

The developments come amid heightened tensions between Iran, the US, Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis, with the latter increasingly militarized and backed by Iranian forces. The international community is closely monitoring the situation due to the potential for significant economic and geopolitical fallout.