Iran Threatens to Close Red Sea if US Continues Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
Tehran – Iran’s military has issued a threat to close the Red Sea if the United States continues its blockade of ships from Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. Such a closure of the Red Sea was previously feared to add pressure on the global economy.
In a statement broadcast by Iranian state television, the head of the military command centre said that the “strong armed forces of the Islamic Republic will not allow exports or imports to continue in the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and Red Sea”.
He added that Iran would “act firmly to defend national sovereignty and its interests”.
Meanwhile, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s highest joint military command, stated that the US’s ongoing sea blockade against all Iranian ports constitutes a violation of the ceasefire.
“Our armed forces will not permit trade to flow through the Red Sea if the sea blockade continues. We will not allow any exports or imports in the Gulf and Gulf of Oman if the American blockade persists,” said our armed forces commander in a statement.
The Red Sea is a vital artery for global trade, handling over 10–15 per cent of international trade and 30 per cent of global container traffic, connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa via the Suez Canal and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. This sea route is essential for transporting oil and gas from the Middle East to Europe and faces severe economic disruptions due to current security threats.
The Red Sea also serves as an important alternative oil export route, marked by Saudi Arabia’s use of the 1,200 km East-West pipeline to the port of Yanbu to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. In March 2026, this route handled around 5 million barrels per day, with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as the main passage.
Saudi Arabia has recently joined calls for the US to halt its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. This contradicts Washington’s claims that its Gulf allies support the action.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing Saudi officials urging US President Donald Trump to “return to the negotiating table”. The officials said Saudi Arabia is concerned that the US sea blockade could trigger attacks on other major shipping routes, further disrupting energy markets.
Iran’s ally in Yemen, the Houthi group based in Sanaa, controls much of Yemen’s coastline on the Red Sea along the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The Houthi group has previously shown willingness to escalate, with rocket attacks on Israel and US military positions in the area, as well as attacks on ships linked to the US and Israel in the Red Sea.
In the current round of fighting between Israel, the United States, and Iran, the Houthi group is only targeting ships they describe as having ties to Israel.
Saudi Arabia reportedly warned Washington that the Houthis could close Bab al-Mandab, which has become the kingdom’s main shipping route since the US-Israel war against Iran disrupted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.
By using the East-West oil pipeline route, Saudi Arabia has shifted to exporting oil via the Red Sea, but this alternative route also faces challenges. On Monday, Saudi Arabia announced that the pipeline had returned to full pumping capacity of 7 million barrels per day, after repairs to damage suspected to be from an Iranian projectile.