Iran Threatens Bab al-Mandeb Blockade, Escalating Global Trade Risks

Iran has issued a stark warning that could reshape global shipping and energy flows. A senior adviser to reports Ali Khamenei, Ali Akbar Velayati, declared that Iranian-aligned forces might shut the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if Tehran's deterrents are tested. This comes as the Strait of Hormuz, already under heavy Iranian control, remains a chokepoint in the ongoing standoff with the United States. Velayati’s message, posted Sunday, emphasized the 'unified command' of Iran's allied groups, indicating