Iran tells Houthis to close Red Sea route if US hits power network, sources say

Iran has instructed Yemen's Houthi group to stand ready to close the vital Red Sea oil route should the United States launch attacks on Iranian power infrastructure, according to three sources familiar with the matter. This potent threat, conveyed recently to the Houthi allies, could severely disrupt global energy supplies.

The request has been discussed within Iran's leadership, with the message relayed to the Houthis, two senior Iranian sources and a regional source confirmed. The sources indicated the Houthis were recently informed of Tehran's directive, which has not been previously reported. This development follows US President Donald Trump's recent threat to attack Iranian power infrastructure.

A source close to the Houthis stated that the group has finalized preparations to target shipping by deploying missiles and drones near the Bab el-Mandeb strait, the critical gateway to the Red Sea. They are reportedly awaiting orders to commence operations. Any threat to this strait risks significantly exacerbating the global energy crisis, especially with the Strait of Hormuz already under threat.

If the Houthis attack vessels or ports in the Red Sea, it would disrupt both of the Middle East's main oil export routes simultaneously. This would open a new front in the energy crisis and Iran's broader conflict with the United States. Representatives from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) who are present in Yemen are expected to control the decision-making process for closing the Bab el-Mandeb strait, according to the source close to the Houthis.