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After disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran is now indicating it could leverage its Houthi allies in Yemen to block the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This potential move threatens a second vital global shipping lane, opening another front against the U.S. and putting intense pressure on international energy markets and trade.
A senior Houthi political official, Mohammed al-Farah, warned that a coordinated closure of both the Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb straits could trigger a massive economic shock, sending oil prices soaring to $200 a barrel if Saudi Arabia—which he claims is being incited by Washington—continues its strikes on Yemen. Analysts view the Bab el-Mandeb as Tehran’s ultimate strategic reserve, allowing it to escalate the conflict from a regional standoff into a direct challenge to the maritime lanes that underpin global commerce.
The Houthis have already demonstrated their disruptive capability by launching attacks on Red Sea commercial vessels since late 2023, forcing major shipping companies to bypass the region. Security experts suggest that while Iran would likely save this “nuclear option” for a scenario where all-out war is unavoidable, intensified U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure could trigger this response.
Meanwhile, Gulf security analysts note that regional diplomacy with Iran is hitting its limits, and while the Houthis are unlikely to act without direct orders from Tehran, any attempt to close the strait would almost certainly provoke a devastating military response from the U.S. and its allies. This escalation unfolds against the backdrop of a highly destabilizing war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran that has already claimed thousands of lives across the region.
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