Iranian Media: Iran May Open New Front in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Iran’s Tasnim News Agency reported on the 25th that an unnamed Iranian military source stated that if the enemy attempts to launch a ground operation against Iranian islands or homeland, or tries to exert pressure on Iran in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman through naval operations, Iran will open a new front in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

The source pointed out that Iran has both the will and the capability to threaten the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. If the Americans want to foolishly open the Strait of Hormuz, they should be careful not to give themselves yet another strait full of trouble and difficulties.

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 4 million barrels of crude oil pass through this strait per day in the first half of 2025. 

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is a maritime chokepoint linking the Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean, and is known as a "maritime corridor" connecting the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Arabic, its name means "Gate of Tears". The strait is windy, wavy, narrow and littered with reefs, shaped like a gate.

As a “maritime corridor” linking the three continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is of extremely important strategic significance and is a region contested by many nations. At its narrowest, the strait is only about 29 kilometers wide, with highly concentrated oil transportation. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, more than 4 million barrels of crude and refined oil pass through this strait per day in the first half of 2025, accounting for about 5.3% of global maritime oil trade.

If the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is closed due to war or blockade, oil transportation will face severe challenges. Oil tankers would have to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. This would add about 6,000 kilometers to the journey and increase sailing time by 10 to 14 days.

On the 20th, Muhammad, a political bureau member of Yemen’s "Ansar Allah" (Houthi) movement, said to RIA Novosti that the movement is considering all possible options to support Iran in resisting the attacks of the United States and Israel.

He said: "If it becomes necessary to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the ‘Ansar Allah’ movement will only attack ships belonging to those countries participating in attacks against Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine."

Once "Ansar Allah" launches attacks in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, this will disrupt Saudi Arabia’s transportation of crude oil via the East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, and the Gulf countries’ exports to Europe and North America through the Suez-Mediterranean pipeline. These pipelines were originally considered alternative oil routes to the Strait of Hormuz.

The spokesperson for the Hatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran's Armed Forces stated on the 25th that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to how it was before, and from now on, developments will be under Iran's control. The action space for hostile forces and their allies has been completely sealed off.

The spokesperson said that Iran has reiterated the transit rules: any relevant parties of hostile forces are not allowed to pass, and passage permissions are entirely determined by Iran.