Iran Threatens Bab al-Mandeb: New Chokepoint Could Bankrupt Europe, Dry Up World Oil

• Iran hints at closing Bab al-Mandeb strait, a critical waterway after Strait of Hormuz, to disrupt global oil trade.
• A senior Iranian official stated that if the US makes a strategic mistake, naval operations will target this alternative route.
• Bab al-Mandeb, 26 km wide, is the southern entrance to the Red Sea; its closure would cut off a major route for Gulf oil exports.
• Iran plans to leverage its Houthi allies in Yemen to exert pressure on the strait without direct military involvement.
• Closure would force ships to reroute via Africa, adding 2 weeks and $1 million in fuel costs, potentially halting Gulf oil exports.