Houthis impose Saudi naval blockade, opening new front in US-Iran war

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared on Monday they are imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a significant escalation that opens a new front against the United States and widens the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Persian Gulf. The announcement came despite indications that Tehran and Washington were seeking to resume diplomacy to halt a cycle of escalating attacks.

The Houthis' armed forces stated they were declaring "a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye’, effective immediately." They cited an "unjust and oppressive siege" imposed on Yemen by Saudi Arabia as justification. The full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil supply, could cut shipments by 7 percent, adding to existing disruptions from the conflict.

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a maritime ​embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy, based on the equation of ‘an eye for an eye’, effective immediately

Oil prices saw a brief increase following the Houthis' statement but later declined as traders anticipated a diplomatic breakthrough. Iran had reportedly been pressuring the Houthis to close the strait if the U.S. continued attacks on Iranian infrastructure. The full closure would leave most Saudi oil exports unable to leave the region.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are underway to restore a ceasefire. A senior Iranian official revealed that Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire aimed at salvaging an interim agreement. Iran's Foreign Ministry confirmed that mediators had presented proposals, signaling active diplomatic contacts. Separately, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni reportedly asked Pakistan to resume its mediation role in Iran's conflict with the United States.

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an unjust and oppressive siege