Iran warns it will direct Houthi militants to target a vital trade route linked to the Suez Canal should the United States initiate a ground invasion, risking severe damage to the global economy.
Control Over Strait of Hormuz
Iran holds firm control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical 24-mile waterway, through the deployment of naval mines. This action disrupts international shipping and pushes fuel prices higher worldwide.
New Threat to Bab al-Mandab Strait
Iranian officials pledge to intensify the crisis by obstructing the Bab al-Mandab Strait, an essential passage for commerce between Europe and Asia. The strait facilitates more than 10% of global seaborne trade.
Disruptions already impact 20% of the world’s oil supply via the Strait of Hormuz. A Bab al-Mandab closure would subject nearly half of all maritime trade to oversight by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Bab al-Mandab Strait lies at the Red Sea entrance, providing access to the Suez Canal and underscoring its strategic importance to international shipping.
