Tensions in the Middle East are raising new concerns about a potential global energy crisis after Iran indicated it might target Western vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
This strait is a crucial chokepoint that connects Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal.
According to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Yemeni Ansarullah movement is “fully prepared” to control the strait in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes.
The source told the publication: “If there is a need to control the Bab al-Mandab Strait to further punish the enemy, the heroes of Yemeni Ansarullah are fully prepared to play a key role.”
A military source stated that “in case the enemy decides to take provocative measures in southern Iran, new fronts could open that will surprise the enemy.
We are constantly monitoring and keeping an eye on the enemy front’s preparations and developments.
“If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts for them as a surprise so that their action will not only be of no benefit to them but will also double their costs.”
Officials have warned that if provocations continue, new fronts could open across southern Iran, increasing the risk of military escalation.
The Pentagon has confirmed plans to deploy thousands of airborne troops to reinforce Marines already heading to the region aboard amphibious assault ships, underscoring the region’s strategic importance.
The Bab al-Mandab is situated between Djibouti and Yemen, near the Red Sea, and has previously experienced attacks on shipping linked to Iran.
If this strait were to be closed, it would exacerbate the disruptions caused by Iran’s earlier shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery responsible for about one-fifth of the global oil supply.
The publication reported that the Yemeni Ansarullah movement is “ready to take control of the strategic strait.”
Oil prices have already surged, with Brent crude reaching over $120 a barrel on March 9 and remaining above $100 since March 13. Analysts have warned that prices could spike to nearly $200 a barrel if tensions persist.
The International Monetary Fund has noted that a sustained 10% rise in oil prices over a year could increase global inflation by 0.4% and reduce economic growth by 0.15%.
This situation emphasises the fragility of global energy markets as geopolitical conflict in the Middle East intensifies, with far-reaching consequences for economies around the world.
