Iran Signals Major Pressure on Adversaries After Yemen Threatens Bab el-Mandeb Strait Closure

Iran’s top legislator has hinted at the prospect of additional pressure on its enemies, following Yemen’s warning to potentially close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital global trade route. “What share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments transits the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait?” Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Majlis (Iran’s Parliament), posted on X on Friday.

Qalibaf also questioned, “Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” This comes as Iran has already exerted substantial influence by closing the Strait of Hormuz to vessels associated with the United States, Israel, and their allies, impacting roughly 20 percent of global LNG shipments and 25 percent of seaborne oil trade.

The Islamic Republic’s military response, Operation True Promise 4, has seen 93 waves of retaliatory strikes on strategic US and Israeli targets. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Armed Forces, aligned with regional resistance movements, have demonstrated significant capabilities in targeting adversary shipping and enforcing maritime pressure, particularly on Israeli vessels connected to the Gaza conflict.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, acting as a crucial gateway linking Asia, Africa, and Europe via the Suez Canal. Daily traffic through the strait includes over eight million barrels of oil, 58 LNG carriers, and a significant share of global rice, wheat, and fertilizer trade. The route’s annual trade value exceeds $800 billion.

Any disruption could force ships to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding eight to nine days to voyages and driving up shipping costs, insurance premiums, and commodity prices in Europe and Asia. European naval authorities have already advised commercial vessels to avoid Yemeni waters due to rising security risks.

Iran’s warnings underscore the growing strategic leverage of Middle Eastern choke points and the potential global economic impact of regional military developments.