Key facts
- Iran's IRGC threatened to close vital seaways if the U.S. interferes with regional maritime routes.
- The IRGC warned that such interference could lead to the closure of all regional energy exports.
- Iran may utilize Houthi allies to shut down the Bab el-Mandeb gateway.
- The threats follow new U.S. strikes against Iran's coastal defense systems and cruise missile sites.
- The U.S. has reportedly renewed a blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has threatened to close vital regional seaways, including the Bab el-Mandeb strait, if the United States interferes with maritime routes. The IRGC warned that such interference could result in the closure of all regional energy exports and other trade routes crucial for U.S. and allied interests.
The threats come as the U.S. conducted new strikes against Iran's coastal defense systems and cruise missile sites on Wednesday and reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The IRGC specifically mentioned the possibility of using Houthi allies to enforce a closure of the Bab el-Mandeb gateway, a critical chokepoint for global shipping.