- US intensifies attacks on Iran, hitting targets near Tehran and striking a ship it accused of trying to break its blockade, while Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at US allies in the region.
- Iran responded with missiles and drones targeting Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, which host US bases.
- Iran has asked Yemen's Houthis to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure, posing a potent new threat.
- The Houthis have completed preparations to attack shipping by deploying missiles and drones near Bab el-Mandeb strait, awaiting the order to begin.
- Six consecutive days of back-and-forth attacks threaten to pull the region back into a total war and cast serious doubt about an interim deal reached last month meant to achieve a permanent peace.
- Iran's clerical rulers are seeking to pressure the United States by raising the potential cost to the global economy, threatening Red Sea shipping and the flow of Saudi oil exports through the waterway.
- Closing down the strait would not be difficult, as anyone with a firing rifle can interrupt the shipping.
Iran has escalated its military posture by instructing the Houthis to prepare for potential closure of the Red Sea oil route in response to U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure. This directive comes amid a series of retaliatory attacks that have heightened regional tensions.4
The U.S. has intensified its military operations, targeting sites near Tehran and accusing Iran of attempting to breach its blockade. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against U.S. allies in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, raising fears of a broader conflict.
Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “we are in an essential and existential war with America.” The ongoing hostilities have already led to a spike in oil prices, reaching approximately $85 a barrel, the highest in a month.
Iran's request to the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical shipping route, poses significant risks to global oil supplies. Sources indicate that the Houthis are prepared to attack shipping in the Red Sea, with Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps representatives in Yemen overseeing the operations.
The potential closure of this strait could exacerbate the already strained global energy market, especially as the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. Regional sources have noted that Saudi Arabia is taking these threats seriously, as the Houthis coordinate closely with Iran.
As tensions escalate, the implications for international shipping and oil exports could be profound, with Iran's strategy appearing aimed at increasing the costs of U.S. involvement in the region.
“Oil prices climbed to $85 a barrel — the highest in a month — as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iran's top negotiator said 'we are in an essential and existential war with America,' and a source said closing the Red Sea strait would not be difficult.”
The Guardian
