Trump details US oil demand during Iran conflict
Rep. John James, R-Mich., discusses the failed US-Iran talks, President Trump’s energy dominance strategy and the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. James highlights how US oil production affects global energy prices and the Iranian economy.
Iran could retaliate for a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by ordering its Houthi allies to disrupt another crucial global shipping route, a senior Middle East analyst warned on Sunday.
The Bab al-Mandeb – a narrow chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden – carries roughly 12% of global oil shipments and serves as a vital trade corridor between Asia and Europe, making it a strategic target for escalation that could further pressure global energy markets.
TRUMP PROMISES TO ATTACK IRAN’S POWER PLANTS AND BRIDGES IF THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED
Aerial view of Bab al-Mandeb Strait with the waterway and surrounding land. (Orbital Horizon/Gallo images)
“This could translate into further attacks on the Gulf’s energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb,” Yacoubian added.
Yacoubian’s comments came after Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior international affairs adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, expressed Tehran’s views on the Bab al-Mandeb in light of possible US action to block the Strait of Hormuz.
“Today the unified command of the Resistance Front considers Bab al-Mandeb just like Hormuz,” he said in a post on X.
WHY THE HORMUZ REGION MATTERS IF TRUMP ISSUES A NEW ULTIMATUM TO IRAN
Yemeni soldiers patrol the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait (Abdulnasser Alseddik/AP)
“If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move.”
The US Central Command issued a statement on Sunday saying the naval blockade would begin on Monday and would be enforced “against ships of all countries entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.”
President Donald Trump also said the US Navy would block “any ships attempting to enter or exit the Strait of Hormuz” in a post on Truth Social.
In March, the US warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint of Houthi attacks
“The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region,” the spokesperson said maritime advice said of the Iranian-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen.
TRUMP GIVES IRAN 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR ATTACK ON POWER PLANT FACED
In this U.S. Navy image, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on August 9, 2023. (Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval/US Navy)
“Potential hostile actions include unidirectional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile attacks; firearms from small boats; explosive boat attacks; and illegal detentions, detentions and/or seizures,” the report said.
“U.S. flagged commercial vessels operating in these areas are strongly advised to disable their AIS transponders,” the advisory said.
Yacoubian also determined in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report that Iran threatened to expand the conflict further into the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb, which would worsen global market disruptions.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“It could deploy the Houthis, its Yemeni ally, to launch renewed attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia of its main solution for oil shipments given the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.
The Houthis joined Iran’s war against the US and Israel on March 28 when the organization launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel. Both were intercepted.
