Iran has instructed Houthi rebels in Yemen to close the Red Sea oil shipping route should the United States launch attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, according to three sources cited by Reuters.
The directive represents a significant escalation in regional proxy warfare, linking direct military action against Iran to immediate disruption of global energy transit.
The threat targets one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for crude oil and liquefied natural gas.
A blockade of the Red Sea would force tankers to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks to delivery times and increasing freight costs.
Markets are likely to price in a higher risk premium for shipping disruptions, particularly for cargoes destined for Europe and Asia.
This development follows a period of heightened tension in the Gulf.