The Iran‑backed Houthi militia in Yemen announced a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia, threatening to tighten a Red Sea blockade that could add a new front to the ongoing Middle East conflict.

In a statement carried by state media, the Houthis accused Saudi forces of an ‘aggressive siege,’ and warned that a closure of the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait would choke imaginary oil that Saudi Arabia has diverted through a pipeline to a Red Sea export terminal. The strait is a vital choke point linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and global markets. The Houthis claim Riyadh bombed Sanaa International Airport last week, inflaming tensions.

Despite the threat, crude prices moved little. Brent oil briefly spiked nearly 4% to above $90 per barrel after U.S. service members were killed in the U.S.–Iran fighting, then eased when Tehran signaled openness to talks. Meanwhile, Iran’s attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade have already reduced tanker traffic and strained global supply.

With the U.S.–Iran interim deal collapsed, Tehran continues missile strikes against U.S. allies, and the U.S. has bombed Iran for nine consecutive days. The situation remains volatile, as any action that blocks the Bab el‑Mandeb could further disrupt oil flows.