Iran Threatens to Block Bab el-Mandeb Strait in Response to Ground Invasion

Iran has issued a stark warning that it is prepared to block the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the event of a ground invasion of its territory, including its islands. A military source stated that Iran possesses both the will and the capability to pose a serious threat to this crucial maritime chokepoint.

The source framed the threat as a direct response to potential actions by the United States. "If the Americans want to devise a solution for the problem of the Strait of Hormuz with foolish measures, they should be careful not to add another strait to their problems and predicament," the source was quoted as saying.

The official emphasized Iran's readiness for escalation, vowing to open new fronts against an adversary. "We will open other fronts for the enemy as a surprise so that his actions not only do not benefit him but also double his costs!"

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, located between Yemen and Eritrea, connects the Gulf of Aden with the Red Sea. It serves as a southern gateway to the Suez Canal, facilitating 10–12 percent of global maritime trade and about 30 percent of global container shipments annually, with roughly 20,000 vessels transiting through each year.

The strait falls within Yemen's territorial waters. In mid-March, senior Yemeni military commander Abed al-Thawr suggested that Houthi forces could close Bab el-Mandeb to US and Israeli shipping if they entered a conflict on Iran's side. This could halt commercial vessels and warships, including aircraft carriers, bound for US or Israeli territories.

Iran is a key backer of the Houthi movement controlling northern Yemen, providing it with weapons, drones, and intelligence. Tehran has also used Yemen as a proxy battleground in its regional rivalry with Saudi Arabia.

This warning follows Iran's recent blockade of another critical waterway—the Strait of Hormuz—in early February amid US-Israeli military operations. That blockade caused a sharp spike in global energy prices by cutting off access to up to 20 percent of the world's oil and over 30 percent of liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments.

The development comes amid diplomatic maneuvering. Reports indicate that Washington recently sent Tehran a 15-point peace plan, whose first item reportedly proposed declaring the Strait of Hormuz a free zone for shipping. In response, Iran laid out five conditions for ending hostilities, one being international recognition of its sovereign right and authority over the Strait of Hormuz.