Iran-aligned Houthi militants have threatened to impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, raising the prospect of a second major maritime chokepoint being disrupted for global energy flows.
The warning targets the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical artery for Saudi crude exports to Asia, and comes as shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz remain exposed to risk.
Brent crude futures climbed above $90 a barrel on Monday, driven by intensifying geopolitical risks in the Middle East.
The development poses a severe supply-side threat to Asian oil buyers, who face the risk of prices climbing toward $100 a barrel if the blockade materializes.
With Saudi Arabia having exported record volumes of crude from its Red Sea terminals in the weeks preceding the warning, any disruption would immediately tighten available supply for key importers in the region.
Brent crude futures climbed above $90 a barrel on Monday, driven by intensifying geopolitical risks in the Middle East.
The price surge followed reports of continued US military strikes on Iranian targets and the escalating threat to Saudi shipping lanes.