Iran's directive adds new Red Sea closure trigger beyond Gaza

Iran directed Yemen's Houthis to prepare to close the Red Sea oil route if the U.S. strikes Iranian power infrastructure, Reuters reported in July 2026. The Houthis previously conditioned their campaign solely on ending Israel's Gaza war. This adds a second trigger: closure could follow U.S.-Iran escalation even if Gaza resolves. The strait carries roughly 12 percent of seaborne crude. Whether tighter coordination overrides the Houthis' stated conditions remains unclear.