Trump details US oil demand amid conflict in Iran<\/a><\/h4>\nRep. John James, R-Mich., discusses the failed US-Iran talks, President Trump’s energy dominance strategy, and the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. James highlights how U.S. oil output affects global energy prices and Iran’s economy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\nNEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\nIran could retaliate against a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by directing its Houthi allies to disrupt another critical global shipping route, a senior Middle East analyst warned Sunday.<\/p>\n
The Bab al-Mandeb<\/a> \u2014 a narrow chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden \u2014 carries roughly 12% of global oil shipments and serves as a vital trade corridor between Asia and Europe, making it a strategic target for escalation that could further strain global energy markets.<\/p>\n“If the U.S. proceeds with its plan to blockade the strait, Iran\u2019s escalation strategy could dictate that it ensures Gulf countries can\u2019t export, either,” Mona Yacoubian<\/a>, director and senior adviser at the Middle East Program, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\nTRUMP VOWS US WILL STRIKE IRAN\u2019S POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES IF STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n\n\nAerial view of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait showing the waterway and surrounding land.<\/span> (Orbital Horizon\/Gallo Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“This could translate to further attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb,” Yacoubian added.<\/p>\n
Yacoubian\u2019s remarks came after Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser on international affairs to Iran’s Supreme Leader, signaled Tehran\u2019s view of the Bab al-Mandeb in light of potential U.S. action to block the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n
“Today, the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz,” he said in a post on X.<\/p>\n
WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"Yemeni](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1200\/675\/yemeni-soldiers-bab-el-mandeb-strait-yemen-middle-east-fox-news.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n\n\nYemeni soldiers patrol the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait<\/span> (Abdulnasser Alseddik\/AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move.”<\/p>\n
U.S. Central Command released a statement Sunday saying the naval blockade would begin Monday and be “enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.”<\/p>\n
President Donald Trump<\/a> also said the U.S. Navy would block “any and all ships<\/a> trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz” in a post on Truth Social.<\/p>\nIn March, the U.S. warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint of Houthi attacks<\/a><\/p>\n“The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region,” a maritime advisory<\/a> said of the Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen.<\/p>\nTRUMP GIVES IRAN 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACE STRIKES ON POWER PLANTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n![\"USS](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/1200\/675\/AP23364555857228.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n\n\nIn this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Aug. 9, 2023.<\/span> (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval\/U.S. Navy)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n“Potential hostile actions include one-way unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile attacks; small arms fire from small boats; explosive boat attacks; and illegal boardings, detentions, and\/or seizures,” it said.<\/p>\n
“U.S.-flagged commercial vessels<\/a> operating in these areas are strongly advised to turn off their AIS transponders,” the advisory stated.<\/p>\nYacoubian also determined in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report<\/a> that Iran was threatening<\/a> to expand the conflict further to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb compounding global market disruptions.<\/p>\nCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n“It could leverage the Houthis, its Yemeni proxy, to once again wage attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia<\/a> of its key workaround for oil shipments given the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.<\/p>\nThe Houthis joined Iran\u2019s war against the U.S. and Israel on March 28 when the organization launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel<\/a>. Both were intercepted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Iran could retaliate against a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by directing its Houthi allies to disrupt another critical global shipping route, a senior Middle East analyst warned Sunday.<\/p>\n The Bab al-Mandeb<\/a> \u2014 a narrow chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden \u2014 carries roughly 12% of global oil shipments and serves as a vital trade corridor between Asia and Europe, making it a strategic target for escalation that could further strain global energy markets.<\/p>\n “If the U.S. proceeds with its plan to blockade the strait, Iran\u2019s escalation strategy could dictate that it ensures Gulf countries can\u2019t export, either,” Mona Yacoubian<\/a>, director and senior adviser at the Middle East Program, told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n TRUMP VOWS US WILL STRIKE IRAN\u2019S POWER PLANTS, BRIDGES IF STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS NOT REOPENED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Aerial view of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait showing the waterway and surrounding land.<\/span> (Orbital Horizon\/Gallo Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “This could translate to further attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure or even deploying the Houthis to blockade the Bab al-Mandeb,” Yacoubian added.<\/p>\n Yacoubian\u2019s remarks came after Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser on international affairs to Iran’s Supreme Leader, signaled Tehran\u2019s view of the Bab al-Mandeb in light of potential U.S. action to block the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n “Today, the unified command of the Resistance front views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz,” he said in a post on X.<\/p>\n WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Yemeni soldiers patrol the strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait<\/span> (Abdulnasser Alseddik\/AP)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “If the White House dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realize that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move.”<\/p>\n U.S. Central Command released a statement Sunday saying the naval blockade would begin Monday and be “enforced against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.”<\/p>\n President Donald Trump<\/a> also said the U.S. Navy would block “any and all ships<\/a> trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz” in a post on Truth Social.<\/p>\n In March, the U.S. warned ships at the Red Sea chokepoint of Houthi attacks<\/a><\/p>\n “The Houthis continue to pose a threat to U.S. assets, including commercial vessels, in this region,” a maritime advisory<\/a> said of the Iran-backed armed group that controls much of northern Yemen.<\/p>\n TRUMP GIVES IRAN 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM TO REOPEN STRAIT OF HORMUZ OR FACE STRIKES ON POWER PLANTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall and amphibious assault ship USS Bataan transit the Bab al-Mandeb Strait on Aug. 9, 2023.<\/span> (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Moises Sandoval\/U.S. Navy)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n “Potential hostile actions include one-way unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks; unmanned surface vehicle (USV) attacks; unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) attacks; ballistic and cruise missile attacks; small arms fire from small boats; explosive boat attacks; and illegal boardings, detentions, and\/or seizures,” it said.<\/p>\n “U.S.-flagged commercial vessels<\/a> operating in these areas are strongly advised to turn off their AIS transponders,” the advisory stated.<\/p>\n Yacoubian also determined in a Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report<\/a> that Iran was threatening<\/a> to expand the conflict further to the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb compounding global market disruptions.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “It could leverage the Houthis, its Yemeni proxy, to once again wage attacks on the strategic waterway, depriving Saudi Arabia<\/a> of its key workaround for oil shipments given the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz,” she added.<\/p>\n The Houthis joined Iran\u2019s war against the U.S. and Israel on March 28 when the organization launched two ballistic missiles at southern Israel<\/a>. Both were intercepted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n