Report: Iran tells Houthis to be ready to shut Red Sea oil route

In Yemen around 16 July 2026, sources said Iran told the Houthis to be ready to close the Red Sea gateway, the Bab al-Mandab route, if the US hits Iran's power network. The account was carried by outlets including the Times of Israel, the Jerusalem Post, Haaretz and NHK World, and Arabic outlets named the Bab al-Mandab strait.

Outlets described the instruction as coming as the conflict between Iran and the US escalates. OilPrice wrote that Iran told the Houthis to prepare Red Sea shipping attacks.