Iran has threatened to disrupt additional strategic shipping routes beyond the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears of a broader energy crisis as military tensions with the United States continue to escalate. The warning came after Washington intensified strikes against Iranian military targets and maintained its naval blockade, while Tehran signaled that other critical maritime corridors could also become targets.
The latest developments have heightened concerns over global energy supplies and pushed oil prices to their highest levels in a month.
Iran Warns of Wider Maritime Disruption
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said regional energy exports would either remain accessible to everyone or be denied to all, warning that it could target other export corridors that support the United States and its allies.
Although the statement did not identify specific waterways, analysts believe Tehran is signaling the possible use of its Houthi allies in Yemen to disrupt traffic through the Bab el Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime gateways connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
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Together with the Strait of Hormuz, Bab el Mandeb carries a significant share of global oil shipments and international trade.
Houthis Raise Pressure on Saudi Arabia
The warning follows renewed fighting between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement.
A senior Houthi official said earlier this week the group was prepared to block the Bab el Mandeb Strait if Saudi military operations continued, claiming such a move could push global oil prices as high as 200 dollars per barrel.
The Houthis have previously demonstrated their ability to disrupt international shipping by attacking commercial vessels in the Red Sea following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in 2023.
Those attacks forced many shipping companies to reroute vessels around southern Africa, increasing transportation costs and delivery times.
United States Expands Military Operations
The United States said its military launched another series of strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline.
According to United States Central Command, the operation targeted command centers, logistics facilities, fuel depots, and military equipment used to support attacks on commercial shipping.
Washington also accused Iran of attacking seven commercial vessels over the past week, resulting in multiple casualties among civilian crews.
Iran Claims Retaliatory Strikes
The IRGC said it had responded by attacking facilities linked to the United States military across the region.
Iran claimed it struck logistical sites associated with the United States Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, a facility in Kuwait, and a military base in Jordan.
Jordan confirmed intercepting three ballistic missiles that entered its airspace, while Kuwaiti authorities reported extinguishing a fire following an attack, although neither government immediately confirmed the extent of the damage described by Iran.
Trump Warns Iran Over Energy Infrastructure
United States President Donald Trump warned that Washington could target Iranian energy infrastructure if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations.
He said power plants and other strategic facilities remained potential military targets unless Iran agreed to resume diplomatic talks.
Trump also abandoned an earlier proposal to impose a 20 percent transit fee on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, instead indicating he would pursue new investment agreements with Gulf partners.
Oil Markets React
Oil prices continued to climb as investors assessed the growing risks to global energy supplies.
Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate both closed at their highest levels in about one month and extended gains during early Wednesday trading.
Markets remain concerned that any disruption to either the Strait of Hormuz or the Bab el Mandeb Strait could significantly reduce global oil exports and drive prices substantially higher.
Why This Matters
The simultaneous threat to the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb Strait represents one of the most serious risks to global energy security in recent years. Together, these two maritime chokepoints handle a large share of the world’s oil exports and commercial shipping. Any sustained disruption would have immediate consequences for energy prices, inflation, supply chains, and global economic growth.
Analysis
Iran’s latest warning signals an effort to expand the geographical scope of its confrontation with the United States. Rather than relying solely on the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran appears to be emphasizing that it retains the ability to threaten multiple strategic shipping routes through allied groups such as the Houthis. This approach increases pressure on Washington and its regional partners by forcing them to secure several critical maritime corridors simultaneously.
For the United States, maintaining freedom of navigation has become a central strategic objective. Continued strikes against Iranian military assets suggest Washington is attempting to deter further attacks on commercial shipping while avoiding a broader regional war. However, every additional military exchange increases the possibility of miscalculation, particularly if attacks spread to Gulf states hosting United States military bases.
Energy markets are likely to remain highly sensitive to developments. Even without a complete closure of either maritime chokepoint, the perception of elevated risk has already lifted oil prices. If Bab el Mandeb also becomes a contested waterway, shipping companies could face significantly higher insurance costs, longer transit routes, and increased security risks, placing further upward pressure on global energy prices and inflation.
Diplomatically, the crisis leaves little room for compromise in the short term. Iran is attempting to increase its leverage before returning to negotiations, while the United States is combining military pressure with conditional offers for renewed diplomacy. The coming weeks will determine whether this strategy produces negotiations or pushes the region into an even broader confrontation with global economic consequences.
With information from Reuters.
