Iran has threatened to disrupt additional strategic maritime routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a broader regional conflict that could severely impact global energy supplies and international trade. The warning comes as the United States intensifies military operations against Iran and reinstates a naval blockade of Iranian ports, further undermining a fragile ceasefire reached last month.
The latest escalation has renewed concerns that the conflict could spread from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, threatening two of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Iran Signals Wider Maritime Escalation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that it could close “all other export corridors that benefit the United States and its allies,” arguing that regional energy exports should either be accessible to everyone or to no one.
The statement followed Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed before the conflict erupted earlier this year.
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The IRGC also stated that Hormuz would remain closed until what it described as “the end of America’s evils,” signaling that Tehran intends to use maritime pressure as leverage against Washington.
Focus Shifts to the Bab el Mandeb
Analysts believe Iran may seek to expand the conflict by relying on its Houthi allies in Yemen to threaten the Bab el Mandeb Strait, another critical global shipping route.
The narrow waterway connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, serving as a key passage for oil exports from Saudi Arabia and commercial cargo moving between Europe and Asia through the Suez Canal.
A senior Houthi official warned earlier this week that the group was prepared to close the Bab el Mandeb Strait if Saudi Arabia continued military operations in Yemen, claiming such a move could drive oil prices as high as 200 dollars per barrel.
The Houthis have previously demonstrated their ability to disrupt international shipping by targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023.
US Military Expands Operations
The United States has responded by launching another wave of military strikes against Iranian positions.
US Central Command said it targeted dozens of military facilities along Iran’s southern coast and near the Strait of Hormuz during a seven hour operation aimed at degrading Iran’s capabilities to attack commercial shipping.
Washington also accused Iran of attacking seven commercial vessels during the past week, resulting in multiple casualties among civilian crews.
Iran, meanwhile, said recent American strikes killed at least 30 civilians and seven military personnel at a base in southeastern Iran.
Regional Conflict Broadens
The conflict is increasingly affecting neighboring countries.
The IRGC claimed it had attacked facilities linked to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, struck a logistics site in Kuwait, and targeted a US military installation in Jordan.
Jordan confirmed that its air defense systems intercepted three ballistic missiles that entered its airspace from Iran.
Meanwhile, Kuwait reported extinguishing a fire at a site targeted during Iranian attacks, although authorities did not immediately confirm whether it was the same location identified by Iran.
Trump Issues New Warning
US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could expand its military campaign if Iran refuses to resume negotiations.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said the United States would eventually target Iranian energy infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, unless Tehran agreed to a new deal.
He also revealed that US negotiators had privately urged Iranian officials to return to negotiations.
Trump had earlier proposed imposing a 20 percent fee on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz but later abandoned the plan after criticism from international shipping organizations, saying instead he would pursue investment agreements with Gulf partners.
Oil Markets React
Energy markets remain highly sensitive to the latest developments.
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate both extended recent gains after closing at their highest levels in about one month.
Traders continue to price in the risk of prolonged supply disruptions as military operations threaten key maritime chokepoints responsible for transporting a significant share of the world’s oil and natural gas.
Why This Matters
The simultaneous threat to both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb Strait represents one of the most serious risks to global energy security in decades. Together, these waterways handle a substantial share of international oil, natural gas, and commercial shipping. Any prolonged disruption would likely increase transportation costs, fuel inflation, and place additional pressure on already fragile global supply chains.
Beyond energy markets, the crisis is drawing more regional actors into direct confrontation, increasing the risk that a bilateral conflict between Washington and Tehran evolves into a wider regional war.
Iran’s latest threats suggest that Tehran is attempting to shift from conventional military confrontation toward economic and maritime pressure. Rather than relying solely on direct attacks, Iran appears willing to exploit its geographic position and regional alliances to disrupt the global economy, calculating that higher energy prices and shipping disruptions could increase international pressure on the United States and its partners.
The possibility of simultaneous disruptions at both Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb would present an unprecedented challenge for global energy markets. While producers such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have invested in alternative export routes, these pipelines cannot fully replace the enormous volumes that normally transit through these strategic waterways.
For Washington, the challenge extends beyond military operations. Maintaining freedom of navigation while avoiding a broader regional conflict will require close coordination with Gulf partners, European allies, and major Asian energy importers. If diplomatic efforts continue to fail, the conflict risks evolving into a prolonged contest over global trade routes, with consequences extending far beyond the Middle East and affecting inflation, energy security, and economic growth worldwide.
With information from Reuters.
