Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen declared a naval blockade against the US ally Saudi Arabia on Monday (July 20). This move expands a new front in the confrontation against the US, escalating threats to global energy supply and international trade beyond the Persian Gulf region.
According to Reuters, Iran had pressured the Houthi rebels to close the Bab el-Mandeb strait leading to the Red Sea if the US continues its attacks on Iran’s power infrastructure.
In a statement on Monday, the Houthi rebels announced the immediate implementation of a naval blockade against their enemy Saudi Arabia.
The reason given by the rebel group is in response to what they describe as Saudi Arabia’s “unfair and oppressive siege” on Yemen.
Saudi Arabia has not issued a public response yet.
The full closure of the Bab el-Mandeb strait would reduce global oil supply by 7%, as it would prevent most of Saudi Arabia’s oil exports from leaving the region. This would further hinder the transportation of Middle Eastern oil to international markets.
Before issuing this statement, both Iran and the US had signaled a willingness to restart diplomatic efforts to end the escalating conflict between the two countries.
An Iranian senior official told Reuters on Monday that Iran had received a 10-day ceasefire proposal from a mediator to salvage the previously reached memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran.
Two Pakistani government sources revealed to Reuters that Iran’s Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni visited Pakistan for the second time in less than a week and requested Pakistan to restore its mediation role in the US-Iran conflict.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated on Sunday evening that Iran effectively nullified the memorandum of understanding aimed at ensuring the free passage of the Strait of Hormuz after multiple attacks on commercial ships.
“They weren’t abiding by the track they laid out,” Pompeo said. “The strait was supposed to be unimpeded, no toll to be paid, no attacks to be had, none of that. If they’re not going to live up to that, then this memorandum can’t survive.”
However, Pompeo also mentioned that the US remains open to resolving issues through diplomatic means.
Reporting by CNN indicated that a senior Iranian official echoed a similar sentiment, stating that Iran “remains open to diplomatic solutions.”