Swapna Kumbar , Bengaluru - Iran has reportedly told Yemen’s Houthi movement to be ready to close the strategic gateway to the Red Sea if the United States strikes Iran’s power infrastructure. The warning, described by regional sources, links any major U.S. attack on Iran’s electricity network to a potential escalation against global shipping routes.

According to the report, a source close to the Houthis says the group has completed preparations to target shipping near the Bab el‑Mandeb strait, the narrow chokepoint connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. Missiles and drones have allegedly been deployed in Yemen’s highlands overlooking Hodeidah and the Gulf of Aden, positioning Houthi forces to threaten or block traffic if ordered. The Bab el‑Mandeb is a vital artery for vessels transiting between Asia and Europe via the Suez Canal, so any disruption there would immediately raise concerns for energy supplies, trade flows and insurance costs.

The source indicates that the Houthis are now effectively on standby, waiting for a directive to begin operations should the U.S. significantly damage Iran’s power network. This reported contingency plan underscores the level of coordination between Tehran and the Houthis and highlights how the conflict involving Iran and Western powers could quickly spill over into the maritime domain. By tying possible U.S. strikes to threats against international shipping, Iran and its allies appear to be signalling that any attack on critical infrastructure at home could carry global economic consequences.

The reported Iranian message to the Houthis, and their claimed readiness to hit shipping near Bab el‑Mandeb, illustrates how rapidly tensions could escalate from targeted strikes into a broader crisis affecting one of the world’s key sea lanes. If such threats are acted upon, they would not only deepen regional instability but also endanger international trade and energy transport through the Red Sea corridor.