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

Iran has ordered the Houthi rebels in Yemen to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the United States attacks energy infrastructure, according to a Reuters report on July 17, 2026. This strategic waterway is a critical global shipping route, with about 20% of the world's container traffic passing through it daily, along with six million barrels of mostly Saudi oil. Closing the strait could severely disrupt global trade and exacerbate the ongoing energy crisis.

Representatives of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are already present in Yemen, supporting the Houthis who have deployed missiles and drones overlooking the Gulf of Aden and the port of Hodeidah. These forces are prepared to block the strait in retaliation for any US strikes on energy facilities. Iran has also threatened to halt all oil and gas exports through the Strait of Hormuz as long as US attacks continue.

Iran's strategy relies on two main deterrents following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz: damaging energy infrastructure across the Gulf states and blocking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Iranian officials have declared a policy of "energy for all or none," warning they will target vital energy installations in Gulf countries if attacked.

The Houthis have escalated their military posture after recent Saudi attacks and renewed fighting, with their leader threatening missile strikes on Saudi Arabia's energy and critical infrastructure. Iran views the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as a vulnerable point for US President Donald Trump, who fears further economic turmoil from escalating conflicts. This development raises concerns about increased instability in a key maritime chokepoint essential to global supply chains between Asia and Europe.

Summary: Iran has instructed the Houthi rebels to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the US attacks energy infrastructure, threatening a major disruption to global trade and energy supplies. Iranian forces are already supporting the Houthis in Yemen, who have deployed missiles and drones to control the strait. This move follows Iran's broader strategy to retaliate against US strikes by targeting critical energy routes in the Gulf and Red Sea regions.