Senior Iranian advisor threatens to block another vital Middle Eastern strait: Bab al-Mandeb

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.