The clouds of the US-Iran war, which have persisted for ten days across West Asia, are expanding further and driving the region toward a full-blown crisis. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have now directly entered the conflict, announcing a devastating maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. This has opened up yet another new front of conflict in West Asia.
On Monday, Houthi armed forces made a stunning announcement that they are closing the Bab el-Mandeb Strait — a critical gateway considered the main entrance to the Red Sea. They revealed that this drastic decision is part of a strategy to target commercial and energy vessels traveling to and from Saudi Arabia. They made clear that the restrictions they have imposed would come into effect immediately.
The Houthis justified these actions on an “eye for an eye” basis, framing them as retaliation for the severe sanctions and economic blockades that the Saudi-led coalition has imposed on their country for the past 12 years. They stated that this counter-attack was launched in response to the ongoing repression of their citizens, the plundering of their domestic resources, and the closure of their ports and airports.
Roughly 12 percent of the world’s international maritime trade cargo passes through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait every year. With the global shipping sector already reeling from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the paralysis of this Red Sea gateway as well threatens to push the global supply chain and maritime trade into further crisis.
International oil markets grew highly alert immediately after this blockade announcement. While prices initially remained somewhat under control amid some hopes for geopolitical talks, market analysts warn that if the situation in the Gulf region crosses all limits, energy prices could skyrocket. Any disruption to Saudi trade routes — which play a key role in global oil exports — would send shockwaves through the international economy.
Meanwhile, American military strikes on Iran have entered their tenth consecutive day. US Central Command revealed that the strikes targeted military command centers, air defense systems, coastal surveillance centers, and missile and drone launch bases in Tehran. Iranian news agencies reported severe damage particularly in and around Tabriz, Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, and the Qeshm Islands, with one death reported in the city of Tabriz.
In retaliation for the American strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has continued counter-attacks against US allied nations in the Gulf region. Iran announced that two oil tankers that violated regulations by traveling through an unsafe route in the Strait of Hormuz exploded, while Britain’s maritime security agency reported an attack on a commercial vessel off the coast of Oman. These instabilities have caused severe alarm in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.
While hostilities rage on both sides, diplomatic peace efforts are also underway in parallel. Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni traveled to Pakistan for talks. Pakistan is mediating efforts to restore a previously reached ceasefire agreement. Iran’s Foreign Ministry stated that it had received some new proposals as well.
However, it appears that the United States is, for now, prioritizing military action over diplomatic talks. President Donald Trump issued a strong warning that the US would fully avenge the death of the American soldier killed in Iranian attacks. At the same time, it is notable that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio remarked that the doors for talks with Iran still remain open.
Overall, with the Bab el-Mandeb route now also shut down in addition to the already paralyzed Strait of Hormuz, the world’s attention has become firmly fixed on West Asia. Economic experts have expressed concern that if this US-Iran conflict does not end swiftly, it will not remain confined to just a few countries, but could lead to a severe international energy crisis and a global economic collapse.