Iran has signalled its focus on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key global shipping route, amid ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks have heightened concerns over supply chains and energy flows.
The Bab el-Mandeb strait connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, with Yemen located along one side of the waterway. The Houthis of Yemen have threatened to disrupt shipping through the strait, and analysts have warned that it could emerge as a new flashpoint in the US-Iran conflict.
Any disruption at this second major chokepoint could have wide-ranging economic consequences, particularly after the Houthis' March 28 missile launch towards Israel.
