The American New York Times published a new report on the expansion of Iranian pressure on energy export routes in the Middle East, noting that the tension is no longer confined to the Strait of Hormuz, but has extended to the Red Sea with the Houthi movements in Yemen, which gives Tehran additional pressure cards in its confrontation with the United States.
According to the report, oil export routes in the region have become more vulnerable to disruption, after the war imposed extensive restrictions on navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while the Houthi advance in Yemen added a new source of pressure on the Red Sea.
The most important shift emerged with the Houthis, supported by Iran, taking control of an island in the Red Sea, giving the group a position that can be used to threaten the movement of ships in one of the vital corridors for oil exports and international trade.
Chief analyst at the Eurasia Group, Gregory Bro, said that the Houthi gains have moved the balance of power back in favor of Iran, which has been able to change the status quo without being drawn so far into a comprehensive war, which it does not seem to be seeking.
Despite Iranian support for the Houthis with weapons, money, and logistical services, analysts point out that the group does not necessarily act as a direct tool for Tehran, without being completely independent of its influence.
The risks were quickly reflected in energy markets, as the price of oil jumped briefly to about $110 per barrel on Friday, an increase of nearly 50% from its pre-war levels, giving Iran an additional economic pressure card due to the repercussions of high energy costs on the American interior.
At the same time, ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below pre-war levels, although a limited number of them transit with US naval escort. While this partially reduced Iran’s ability to use the Strait as a pressure card, the movements of its allies in Yemen and the attacks that targeted Saudi Arabia expanded the circle of risks to other paths.
In parallel, Iran intensified its attacks on American warships in the Gulf, while Iranian national security official Mohsen Rezaei announced that his country had tested what he described as the first anti-ship missile against an American ship.
The US military responded by targeting a number of Iranian crude oil tankers, raising the risks of direct confrontation and the possibility of it turning into a broader escalation in the region.
