The Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Muhammad Baqir Qalibaf, indicated the possibility of targeting the Bab al-Mandab waterway, in a dangerous signal that may lead to expanding the scope of the conflict to include one of the most important global trade corridors.
This reference came in a post on social media on Friday evening, where Qalibaf asked about the volume of oil tankers and container ships passing through Bab al-Mandab, which analysts considered an implicit threat to disrupt shipping traffic.
Bab el-Mandeb, about 32 kilometers wide, is a vital connection point between the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, through which more than a tenth of the world’s seaborne oil passes, in addition to about a quarter of container ship traffic.
Experts warn that any disruption to traffic in Bab el-Mandeb will force shipping companies to change routes to the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa, meaning increased journey times and transport costs, and will have a direct impact on energy and commodity prices around the world.
Previously, Iran has disrupted the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, sending fuel prices soaring and confusing global markets, making any similar threat to Bab al-Mandeb a major international concern.
This development comes after the announcement of the downing of two American warplanes inside Iranian territory in two separate incidents, which is the first time that American aircraft have been shot down since the beginning of the conflict.
US President Donald Trump said in a television speech that his country “defeated Iran, destroyed it economically and militarily, and eliminated its nuclear program,” and pledged to “finish the mission at record speed.”
However, mutual threats, whether targeting sea lanes or expanding air strikes, suggest that the conflict may take on broader economic and geopolitical dimensions.
Bab al-Mandab is considered one of the most important maritime straits in the world, along with the Strait of Hormuz and the Suez Canal, and any disruption to navigation through it will lead to immediate disruptions in energy markets and supply chains.
