Iran claims full blockade of Bab el-Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz, threatens strikes on Gulf energy infrastructure
Iran has reportedly fully blocked the Bab el-Mandeb strait along with the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and is threatening strikes on oil, gas and energy infrastructure of US-allied Gulf countries in retaliation for Israeli strikes on a petrochemical complex.
A source close to Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has stated that Iran has now fully blocked the Bab el-Mandeb strait, together with a complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The next step, according to the same source, would be strikes on oil, gas, and energy infrastructure belonging to US-allied Gulf countries.
The move is described as a response to today's Israeli strikes on a petrochemical complex. The escalation threatens a major disruption to global oil shipments, as both chokepoints are critical for crude and LNG flows from the Gulf region.
Markets are likely to react sharply to the news, with oil prices expected to surge on supply disruption fears. No independent confirmation of the claims has been received yet.
Source: First Squawk