Iran has reportedly told Yemen’s Houthi movement to get ready to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if the United States targets Iranian power infrastructure. The claim was attributed to three anonymous sources in a Reuters report, adding a new layer of tension to an already volatile regional standoff.
The reported instruction suggests Tehran is considering indirect responses if Washington follows through on threats involving Iranian power plants or other electricity-related facilities. Under that scenario, the Houthis would be expected to act against the strait, turning a potential US-Iran clash into a wider regional confrontation.
Because the account relies on unnamed sources, many details remain unclear, including how quickly such a move could be carried out and what form any closure attempt might take. Still, the report points to growing concern that any strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure could trigger retaliation beyond Iran’s own borders.
If accurate, the message underscores how closely linked regional flashpoints have become. A confrontation over Iranian power sites could quickly spill into maritime security concerns, with the Bab el-Mandeb emerging as a possible pressure point in the broader dispute involving Tehran, the Houthis and the United States.
