Story perspectives

Iran Threatens Bab al-Mandeb Closure if US Bombs Plants

7/19/2026

Summary

Iran urges closure

Iran asked Yemen's Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the United States attacks its power plants.
President Donald Trump warned on July 14 that U.S. forces could bomb Iranian power sites.
Closing the strait would disrupt about 7 % of global energy flows and Saudi Arabia’s routing of 70 % of its oil through Yanbu, while the Strait of Hormuz stays restricted.

Summary

US Restarts Blockade

Brent crude futures rose to $84.93 a barrel as dual-chokepoint threats intensified.
United States restarted blockade at 2000 UTC on 14 July, rejecting two vessels and sanctioning five of 13.
Hormuz traffic fell to 13 vessels from 21.
Saudi Arabia rerouted 70 % of crude to Yanbu, raising flow at 4 million barrels from 973,000.
Qatar intercepted an Iranian missile while Iranian media displayed a drone over Bandar Abbas, accusing the United Arab Emirates.

History

Historical Context

In October 1973, after the Yom Kippur War, OAPEC—led by Saudi Arabia—cut output 5 % and imposed an oil embargo on the United States and other Israel supporters, pushing crude from $3 to $12 a barrel, a rise of about 300 %. That shock showed the power of chokepoints, a tactic echoed as the United States threatens Iranian sites and Iran urges the Houthis to seal the Bab al-Mandeb.

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Iran urges closure

Iran asked Yemen's Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if the United States attacks its power plants.
President Donald Trump warned on July 14 that U.S. forces could bomb Iranian power sites.
Closing the strait would disrupt about 7 % of global energy flows and Saudi Arabia’s routing of 70 % of its oil through Yanbu, while the Strait of Hormuz stays restricted.

1 / 3