Yemen's Iranian-aligned Houthis have warned shipping companies that their tankers risk being attacked if they use Saudi Arabian ports, enforcing a blockade announced the previous day. The threat, combined with Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, could severely affect Saudi oil exports that have so far been unscathed by months of conflict, deepening the rapidly escalating crisis in the region.
Oil tankers reverse course
Two oil tankers that had loaded Saudi crude this week for China and India made U-turns on Tuesday away from the Houthi-controlled coast at the mouth of the Red Sea, heading toward the Suez Canal. The Houthis claimed six ships had changed course, underlining how seriously the threat is being taken.
US response
Donald Trump said on Tuesday the US would “just have to take care of business” if the Houthis followed through on their threats. “You know, we’ve done that with the Houthis before, and we haven’t heard from them in a while since we did what we did originally,” he said at a White House meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Diplomatic efforts
The Houthi threat came as diplomats sought to salvage the collapsed interim deal between Iran and the US, even as both countries continued launching attacks in a 10th day of renewed fighting. The Iranian interior minister, Eskandar Momeni, visited Pakistan, an important mediator. Sources suggested both sides might be seeking a way out, with Axios reporting the Trump administration was weighing whether to escalate or seek a 10-day ceasefire.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.”
Houthi control and maritime threat
The Houthis control northern Yemen, including territory along the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the southern end of the Red Sea. While they have not formally closed the waterway, their threat to vessels using Saudi ports has raised serious questions over the safety of a channel used by 7% of global maritime traffic.
Shipping companies received an email from the Houthis on Monday stating they should not load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports, and such activity may result in being targeted “in any location” within reach. “We strongly recommend that your company exercise due diligence and the utmost care in all its dealings,” the email said.
Expert analysis
Allison Minor, a Middle East expert at the Atlantic Council thinktank, said: “The Houthis have not yet clarified which ships they will target, but their intent to blockade Saudi ports implies that any ship visiting Saudi ports and carrying Saudi oil would be in the crosshairs. The oil currently transiting the strait from the north is going primarily to Asian markets. During their earlier Red Sea campaign, the Houthis cut deals with Russia and China to permit their ships to pass – but the Houthis may be less willing to cut deals with Chinese ships carrying Saudi oil.”
Between 2023 and 2025, the Houthis used small boats, drones and missiles to attack more than 100 commercial ships, rendering “the waters of the 20-mile-wide strait too risky for most shippers,” she added.
Geopolitical context
While the Houthis have their own agenda relating to long-term hostilities with Riyadh, Iran has been trying to drag Yemen into a wider conflict aimed at throttling global energy supplies. Iran has previously pressed the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb if the US continued to attack Iranian power infrastructure, demonstrating Tehran's continued room for manoeuvre a week and a half into renewed hostilities.
With 25% of oil and gas shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb combined, any significant restrictions on traffic would have a major global economic impact.
Continued strikes
Heavy strikes continued on both sides. US Central Command said it had targeted “Iranian military command centres, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and air defence systems.” Iranian state media reported explosions in Fars, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces.
Tehran also attacked US allies: Jordan's military said Iran targeted it with five drones and three missiles, all shot down. Kuwait said Iran struck desalination and power plants for a fourth straight day, sparking fires and causing damage. The US State Department warned Americans that “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the United States and Americans throughout the world.”
