Iran has asked Yemen's Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure, three sources told Reuters on Thursday, posing a potent new threat to global energy supplies.
The move could significantly impact the global shipping industry, particularly those vessels tracking through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint for oil exports from the Middle East. The Houthi movement has previously demonstrated its ability to disrupt maritime traffic in the region, highlighting the potential for further escalation in the region.