Iran told Houthis to close Red Sea oil route if US strikes

Iran has told Yemen's Houthi movement to be ready to close the Red Sea oil route if the US decides to strike Iranian power infrastructure, according to a report citing an unnamed Iranian source. The directive was communicated to the Houthis recently, the source said.

A US strike on Iran's power grid would trigger the closure, blocking tanker traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb strait. The Bab el-Mandeb is a chokepoint for crude and refined products heading to Europe and Asia. Without such a strike, the Houthis would not act.

The request is part of contingency planning within Tehran's leadership, the source said. The report did not specify a timeframe for the Houthi readiness. No US decision on striking Iran's power infrastructure has been reported.