Iran has reportedly directed Yemen’s Houthi movement to prepare for the possible closure of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital gateway to the Red Sea, if the United States launches strikes on Iran’s power infrastructure, according to multiple sources familiar with the development.
Two senior Iranian officials and a regional source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the directive was discussed within Iran’s leadership and communicated to the Houthis as part of contingency plans amid rising regional tensions.
The sources said the instruction was issued recently but did not disclose how it was delivered or whether it was linked to US President Donald Trump’s reported threat on Tuesday to target Iran’s power infrastructure.
Neither Iran’s Foreign Ministry nor a spokesperson for the Houthi movement had responded to requests for comment at the time of the report.
A source close to the Houthis claimed the group has completed preparations to target commercial shipping in the Red Sea if instructed to do so.
According to the source, missiles and drones have been deployed near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with additional military assets positioned in Yemen’s highlands overlooking Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden, awaiting further orders.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serving as a major corridor for global trade and energy shipments.
Analysts warn that any disruption to shipping through the waterway could deepen the global energy crisis, particularly following reports of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
They cautioned that simultaneous disruptions to both critical oil transit routes could have far-reaching consequences for global energy supplies, international trade and regional stability, raising fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.
