Iran Just Pulled Off a Strategic Master Stroke in the Strait of Hormuz and Now in the Red Sea - Trump Has a Problem

Key Points:

• The United States conducted its 11th consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure supporting attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, while Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis escalated threats to commercial shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait by announcing a naval blockade against Saudi ports.
• Two tankers carrying Saudi crude oil to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea following the Houthi blockade announcement, with additional vessels delaying departures or altering routes due to security concerns, severely disrupting traffic through two critical maritime chokepoints.
• U.S. Central Command stated the Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial transit despite Iranian aggression and highlighted that CENTCOM has facilitated the transit of around 900 commercial vessels and 450 million barrels of crude oil since early May.
• Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree declared all vessels trading with Saudi ports legitimate military targets, accusing Saudi Arabia of renewed aggression against Yemen, while U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of enabling the Houthi campaign and flying IRGC members into Yemen to escalate the conflict.
• Vessel tracking data shows a sharp decline in commercial traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, with significantly fewer crossings recorded, raising concerns about potential spikes in oil prices and the broader impact on global energy supplies and international trade.