The Strait of Hormuz crisis is emerging as one of the biggest challenges for global energy security, with Iran claiming it now holds the upper hand over the vital waterway.

Iranian officials say Washington may have to accept Tehran’s terms for managing maritime traffic through the strait. The development comes after months of disruption and growing tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel.

The Strait of Hormuz has historically carried roughly 20 million barrels of oil per day, representing around a fifth of global oil consumption. Any prolonged disruption could therefore have major consequences for energy markets, shipping and the global economy.

At the same time, Gulf countries are exploring alternative routes. Saudi Arabia is considering expanding its east-west pipeline toward Yanbu on the Red Sea, while Kuwait is discussing expanded pipeline connections through Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The UAE already operates the Habshan-Fujairah pipeline, allowing crude to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq is also examining alternative routes toward the Red Sea and Mediterranean, while Iran itself has developed infrastructure intended to reduce its dependence on Hormuz.

But experts warn that existing alternatives can absorb only a portion of the oil normally transported through the strait, while constructing major new pipelines could take years.

Iran Tightens Grip on Hormuz | Trump Faces Tough Choices as Gulf States Seek Alternative Oil Routes

Iran has warned that any renewed US military strikes, especially alongside Israel, could trigger a wider regional conflict across West Asia. The warning comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington, as tensions continue to rise. Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi Aramco facilities in Jazan and Yanbu, threatening key global energy routes. The conflict has raised concerns over the security of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and global oil supplies, while Iran insists that diplomacy—not military escalation is the only path forward.

Iran Warns of Wider West Asia War | Houthi Strikes Saudi Aramco |US, Israel, Saudi Tensions Escalate

The Middle East conflict is entering a dangerous new phase as Yemen's Houthi rebels intensify attacks on Saudi-linked shipping in the Red Sea. After announcing a naval blockade targeting Saudi Arabia, the Houthis claim they have struck Saudi oil tankers, raising fears of a wider regional war and renewed disruption to global energy supplies.
The escalation comes as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted, placing immense pressure on another vital maritime chokepoint—the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Saudi Arabia, which has relied on Red Sea ports to bypass Hormuz, now faces fresh threats to its oil exports.


Houthis Target Saudi Oil Tankers | Red Sea Blockade Escalates | US Faces New Middle East Crisis

Iran is intensifying pressure in West Asia through its Houthi allies, who have launched fresh attacks on Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, raising fears of a major global energy crisis. With the Strait of Hormuz already under pressure, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has emerged as a second strategic choke point, threatening global oil and gas supplies.

The Houthis claim responsibility for missile and drone strikes on Saudi-linked vessels, while Saudi Arabia has confirmed damage to one of its oil tankers. Analysts warn that if both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb are disrupted simultaneously, nearly one-quarter of the world's oil and gas supply could be affected.


Red Sea Crisis deepens | Houthi Missile attacks on Saudi ships escalate Iran-US regional conflict

President Donald Trump has declared that Iran is "not ready" to make a deal, while warning that the United States would destroy Iranian infrastructure if attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz continue.
Iran's military responded with a sharp warning, saying any U.S. strike on critical infrastructure would trigger attacks on regional oil, gas, electricity, and economic facilities, while vowing to halt oil exports entirely.

Trump Warns Iran: No Deal, More Strikes If Hormuz Attacks Continue | Oil Crisis Escalates

Iran has asked Yemen’s Houthi movement to stand ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the United States strikes Iranian power infrastructure, three sources told Reuters on Thursday, posing a potent new threat ​to global energy supplies.
The idea has been discussed within the Islamic Republic's leadership, and the message has been conveyed to Iran's Houthi allies, two senior Iranian ‌sources and a regional source familiar with the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Houthis threaten to shut the crucial Bab al Mandeb through which 7% of global oil passes

India’s vital trade and energy supply routes are facing severe disruptions due to escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia, primarily involving US-Iran conflicts. Critical maritime chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait have become high-risk zones, driving up shipping insurance, freight costs, and overall transit times.


India's Trade Route Under New Threat

Tensions in the Middle East have escalated to a critical point, with Iran signaling potential disruptions to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf issued a veiled threat regarding this strategic maritime chokepoint, following earlier actions that restricted the Strait of Hormuz, placing further pressure on global trade routes.


Ghalibaf's Veiled Threat on Bab el-Mandeb as Global Trade Routes Under Pressure

<p><strong>Red Sea crisis</strong>: The United States said that its forces in the Red Sea region conducted five "self defense strikes" against three anti-ship cruise missiles as well as one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Yemeni territories controlled by the country's Houthi rebels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Houthis declared an unprecedented offensive against US maritime assets in the Red Sea on October 23 last year in purported solidarity with Palestinians under attack in Gaza following Israel's retaliatory state of war after the October 7 Hamas attacks. While they initially claimed that their state of offensive was specifically against Israel-linked merchant vessels, in the forthcoming weeks, several merchant vessels from other nations also came under attack&nbsp;— stoking a heightened deployment of maritime assets by the US and allies in the region.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;The war comes to The Red Sea</strong></p>

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<p>"This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23," the US Central Command said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It also said that the military equipment allegedly possessed by the Houthi rebels in Yemen "presented an imminent threat to the US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region", and thus they determined to target them on February 17.</p>

<p>"These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels," the US Central Command reasoned.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier on Feb 16, the US&nbsp;State Department announced that a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India was struck by a missile in the Red Sea.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/red-sea-ship-attacks-inside-disrupted-shipping-route-over-west-asias-gate-of-tears-673216">Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears'</a></strong></p>

<p>Around 20,000 ships transit every year through the Suez Canal, carrying millions of barrels of oil every day as well as&nbsp;goods made in Asia.</p>

<p><img alt="main img" src="https://cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/styles/story_page/public/2023/12/25/401386-untitled-design-2023-12-25t002340471.png?imwidth=500" /></p>

<p>According to the London-based International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade passes through the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks have therefore&nbsp;disrupted one of the world's busiest shipping routes as shipping companies&nbsp;are using a much longer route to Europe around southern Africa instead.</p>

<p>The US and allies have been carrying out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since 11 January. There have been several more strikes on maritime vessels&nbsp;since then.</p>

<p>US President Joe Biden said they were in "direct response" to the attacks on Red Sea ships, which "jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Red Sea crisis: The United States said that its forces in the Red Sea region conducted five "self defense strikes" against three anti-ship cruise missiles as well as one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Yemeni territories controlled by the country's Houthi rebels.

Red Sea crisis: The United States said that its forces in the Red Sea region conducted five "self defense strikes" against three anti-ship cruise missiles as well as one unmanned underwater vessel (UUV) and an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Yemeni territories controlled by the country's Houthi rebels. The Houthis declared an unprecedented offensive against US maritime assets in the Red Sea on October 23 last year in purported solidarity with Palestinians under attack in Gaza following Israel's retaliatory state of war after the October 7 Hamas attacks. While they initially claimed that their state of offensive was specifically against Israel-linked merchant vessels, in the forthcoming weeks, several merchant vessels from other nations also came under attack — stoking a heightened deployment of maritime assets by the US and allies in the region. Also watch | The war comes to The Red Sea × "This is the first observed Houthi employment of a UUV since attacks began in Oct. 23," the US Central Command said. It also said that the military equipment allegedly possessed by the Houthi rebels in Yemen "presented an imminent threat to the US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region", and thus they determined to target them on February 17. "These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels," the US Central Command reasoned. Earlier on Feb 16, the US State Department announced that a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India was struck by a missile in the Red Sea. Also read | Red Sea ship attacks: Inside disrupted shipping route through West Asia's 'gate of tears' Around 20,000 ships transit every year through the Suez Canal, carrying millions of barrels of oil every day as well as goods made in Asia. According to the London-based International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), 12 per cent of the world's ship-borne trade passes through the Red Sea. The Houthi attacks have therefore disrupted one of the world's busiest shipping routes as shipping companies are using a much longer route to Europe around southern Africa instead. The US and allies have been carrying out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen since 11 January. There have been several more strikes on maritime vessels since then. US President Joe Biden said they were in "direct response" to the attacks on Red Sea ships, which "jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation". (With inputs from agencies)

Red Sea crisis: Houthis use unmanned underwater vessels for first time, says US

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