Iran has unofficially signalled that it could move to close the Bab al Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, alongside its asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi official Iranian Fars News Agency.
Why This Matters
While closing the Strait of Hormuz places pressure on global energy supplies, shutting the Bab al Mandeb Strait would also strike global trade routes and widen the conflict, affecting a larger number of countries amid the ongoing American Israeli war on Iran.
Current Situation
On 2 March, Tehran announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, attributing the move to the American Israeli war against it. The step led to higher shipping and insurance costs, rising oil prices, and growing fears of global economic repercussions.
Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported that Ibrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al Anbiya headquarters, confirmed that the Strait of Hormuz is under full Iranian control at all times without even a moment of lapse.
The agency also quoted the commander of the naval forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Brigadier General Ali Reza Tangsiri, who stated that passage through the Strait of Hormuz rests solely in Iran’s hands.
Tangsiri added that any naval vessel seeking to cross the strait must first request permission from Iran.
What Navigation Data Shows
Live maritime navigation images indicate limited movement in the Strait of Hormuz, with some commercial vessels and tankers accumulating on both sides of the strait. However, some ships are still passing through, particularly certain oil tankers heading toward China.
Meanwhile, maritime traffic through the Bab al Mandeb Strait to and from the Red Sea continues normally and remains active.
What Closing Bab al Mandeb Would Mean
Closing the Bab al Mandeb Strait would disrupt nearly 12 percent of global maritime trade and shut down a vital passage connecting Europe and Asia through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
It would also inflict additional damage on Gulf oil exports to global markets already affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Roughly one fifth of global oil and gas consumption required by Europe passes through the strait. It also enables the passage of nearly 98 percent of vessels entering Egypt’s Suez Canal, whether travelling from north to south or from south to north.
Recently
Last year, the Ansar Allah movement known as the Houthis began targeting American and Israeli ships in the Red Sea, taking advantage of their control over coastal areas near the Bab al Mandeb Strait.
The United States launched a large scale assault on Yemen under the pretext of protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. The confrontation ended with an agreement with the Houthis that excluded American ships from attacks. The Houthis confirmed at the time that the Israeli occupation was not part of the agreement and that its ships remained within the group’s range of fire.
Has It Been Closed Before
The strait has witnessed numerous tensions that disrupted passage, but it was formally closed only once in modern history during the October War of 1973 between the occupation and Egypt. At that time, the Egyptian and South Yemeni naval forces imposed a closure of the strait to Israeli ships that lasted until November of the same year.
Since 28 February, Israel and the United States have launched attacks on Iran that have killed hundreds of people, including Ali Khamenei and security officials. Tehran has responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel.
Iran has also targeted what it describes as American interests in several Arab countries, resulting in deaths and injuries and causing damage to civilian infrastructure, actions that have been condemned by the countries affected.
