Ali Akbar Velayati, a veteran advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, has warned that the Bab al-Mandeb Strait could be closed by Iranian-backed Houthi forces, mirroring threats to the Strait of Hormuz. This potential double blockade of two critical maritime chokepoints threatens to disrupt 25% of global oil and gas supplies, exacerbating the current energy price crisis and global inflation. The warning follows heightened tensions between Tehran and the US, with Velayati dismissing US threats and highlighting the strategic importance of these routes for global trade between Asia and Europe.
Senior Iranian advisor threatens to block another vital Middle Eastern strait: Bab al-Mandeb
Monday, 6 April 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Inflation measures how much general prices rise over time, usually reported year‑on‑year to compare a month with the same month a year earlier. Portugal’s National Institute of Statistics (INE) estimated January inflation at 1.9% year‑on‑year, down 0.3 percentage points from December, which affects rents, wages and everyday purchasing power for residents.
