Iran Threatens to Block More Vital Seaways as US Renews Blockade

Tehran. After the United States reimposed a naval blockade on Iran's ports, Iran has warned that it will also close other important export routes that benefit America. This has increased concerns about further deepening the crisis in global energy supply and international trade.

According to Iranian media, a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday warned that all energy export routes that benefit America's allies will be kept open for all or closed for all if necessary.

Earlier, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, the US administration of President Donald Trump reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. According to analysts, Iran is signaling that it will also close the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb through its ally, the Houthi group in Yemen. This sea route is an important trade and energy route connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, through which Saudi Arabia exports a large amount of oil and global maritime transport operates.

On Monday, a senior Houthi official warned that they are ready to close the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb if Saudi Arabia continues its attacks on Yemen. According to him, if such a step is taken, the price of oil could reach up to 200 US dollars per barrel. Following this, the Houthi rebels fired missiles towards Saudi Arabia, accusing Saudi Arabia of bombing an airport under their control. With this, the four-year-long ceasefire has also been broken.

Even after the Gaza war began in 2023, the Iran-backed Houthi group targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea, claiming they were related to Israel, which caused major disruptions in world trade.

Meanwhile, the US military has stated that it has launched new airstrikes to weaken Iran's military capabilities to prevent attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the US, Iran had attacked seven commercial ships in the past week, in which a dozen crew members were killed, went missing, and injured.

According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), dozens of military targets in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's coastal areas were struck in attacks that lasted for about seven hours on Tuesday night.

On the other hand, the IRGC has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the end of America's evil deeds. Before the war began, about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas was supplied through this sea route.

In retaliation for the latest US airstrikes, the IRGC claimed to have targeted the command, logistics, fuel, and military equipment storage sites related to the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. It also claimed to have set fire to and destroyed a US logistics center in the Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait, and attacked aircraft hangars at a US military base in Azraq, Jordan.

Kuwait's state news agency reported on Wednesday that a fire at a site was brought under control after an Iranian attack. However, it has not been confirmed whether the location is the same as claimed by the Guard Corps.

Meanwhile, Jordan has stated that it shot down three ballistic missiles that entered its airspace from Iran. With the escalation of the US-Iran conflict, which had appeared calm for some time after the temporary ceasefire in June, regional tensions have risen again. Both sides have intensified their attacks.