Iranian Official Threatens Closure of Bab al-Mandeb Strait Amidst Rising Tensions

A senior Iranian advisor is warning of a potential blockade of a vital shipping route, raising fears of a global energy crisis.

The Supreme Leader’s top advisor, Mojtaba Khamenei, has issued a stark threat, indicating Iran’s allies could close the Bab al-Mandeb waterway following the nation’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This action highlights escalating tensions in the region and presents a significant risk to global energy markets. Ali Akbar Velayati, a former foreign minister and influential figure within Iran’s political establishment, delivered this warning on the social media platform X, stating that the “unified command of the Resistance front” viewed the Bab al-Mandeb with the same seriousness as the Strait of Hormuz. Velayati’s comments followed a week of heightened rhetoric, including President Donald Trump’s threats to target Iranian infrastructure. The Bab al-Mandeb strait, located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, serves as a critical artery for global oil trade, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and ultimately the Indian Ocean. Blocking this route would disrupt approximately a quarter of the world’s energy supply and significantly impede Asian exports to Europe. The waterway is currently controlled by the Houthi movement, a key component of Iran's "Axis of Resistance." The potential closure of both the Bab al-Mandeb and the Strait of Hormuz would exacerbate the existing global energy crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict. This disruption could lead to increased prices at petrol stations and factories worldwide, impacting economies across the globe. The strait is a key transit point for Saudi Arabian oil exports to Asia and allows other Gulf states to reach European markets via the Suez Canal. In 2024, roughly 5% of global crude oil and petroleum products flowed through the Strait of Hormuz, totaling 4.1 billion barrels. The narrowest point of the Bab al-Mandeb, measuring 29 kilometers (18 miles), creates a bottleneck for shipping traffic, limiting access to two channels.