Two "throats" under simultaneous pressure? Iran warns the U.S. of possible blockade of the Strait of Mandeb

Ask AI · Why has Iran chosen the Strait of Mandeb as a countermeasure?

April 6, China News Service (CNS) — According to reports compiled from international media, on April 5 local time, Iran’s top leader’s foreign affairs adviser Velayati warned the United States that if it “makes another mistake,” the resistance front led by Iran will use the blockade of the Strait of Mandeb as a countermeasure.

Iran’s warning

According to the report, on April 5, Iran’s top leader’s foreign affairs adviser Velayati posted on social media, saying: “Today, the unified command of the resistance front views the Strait of Mandeb the same way as the Strait of Hormuz. If the White House makes another stupid mistake, it will soon realize that with just one move, global energy and trade flows will be cut off.”

Earlier, Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, citing people familiar with the matter, said that Iran may take action to close or control the Strait of Mandeb, and that Yemen’s Houthi forces have already been prepared to act in the region.

The sources also said that if the enemy attempts to carry out a ground operation against Iranian islands or the mainland, or exerts pressure on Iran in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman through naval operations, Iran will open a new front in the Strait of Mandeb.

As the conflict continues, a member of the Houthi political bureau, Bouheti, previously warned that the Houthis are considering all possible options to support Iran’s resistance against U.S. and Israeli attacks. If they have to close the Strait of Mandeb, the Houthis will only attack ships of the countries that take part in attacks against Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Two major “chokepoints”

As explained, the Strait of Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, serving as a vital chokepoint linking the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Indian Ocean. The strait is within the control area of Yemen’s Houthi forces.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) noted that the Strait of Mandeb plays a key role in global trade and in transporting oil and natural gas. Maritime security expert Boeghler from the University of Copenhagen said: “If this route also becomes unsafe, a large amount of Saudi oil will have to go through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, which will extend delivery times and drive up prices.”

Analysts generally believe that if both major chokepoints—the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Mandeb—come under simultaneous pressure, goods flow, oil transport, and so on will face major problems. At present, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has almost come to a standstill, with only a small number of vessels being granted clearance.

U.S. intelligence assessments believe Iran is unlikely to loosen its “throat-gripping” control over the Strait of Hormuz in the short term. Vaezz, director of the Iran Project at the International Crisis Group, pointed out that “gripping the ‘chokepoint’ of the global energy supply chain is more powerful than nuclear weapons.”

Reuters, citing three sources, also said that intelligence assessments show this conflict may actually increase Iran’s influence in the Middle East, because Tehran has demonstrated its influence over shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

Reuters’ analysis said intelligence also indicates that Iran may continue to influence global energy markets by controlling the Strait of Hormuz in order to pressure the U.S. to end the war as soon as possible. At present, the war’s spillover effects have already spread to multiple aspects of the U.S. domestic economy and people’s livelihoods, worsening President Trump’s political net-negative assets.

On April 3, Trump posted on social media saying, “With a little more time, we can easily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, get the oil, and make a fortune.” On April 5, Trump threatened again that if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz, it will “live in hell.” He also said, “April 7 will be Iran’s power plant day and bridge day,” implying a fierce bombing of Iran’s power plants and bridges.

On April 5, Iran’s top leader’s office also selected and posted on social media excerpts from the first speech made by the top leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasizing that the Iranian people want to continue effective acts of resistance that shame the other side, and reaffirming that Iran must continue to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.

On April 5 as well, Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker Kalibaf wrote that Trump’s reckless actions are dragging the United States into hell, harming every family. Trump cannot gain any benefit from war crimes; the only truly effective solution is to respect the rights of the Iranian people and end this dangerous game.