Iran has prepared a dangerous trap for Trump — the consequences will hit the US

Former head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat assesses that the Houthis' successes in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area give Iran leverage over the US. Trump faces a choice between escalation and maintaining a cautious line, which could impact the economy and his ratings ahead of the midterm elections.

Former head of Israel's National Security Council Meir Ben-Shabbat warns that the Houthis' successes in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait area give Iran a new lever of pressure on the US. President Donald Trump faces a difficult choice: either maintain the current cautious line, avoiding a direct war in the Middle East, or step up intervention to protect shipping. Ben-Shabbat believes that Tehran is interested in using the economic consequences of the crisis — rising oil prices and inflation — ahead of the US midterm elections. The analysis notes that Iran is already capable of threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and the strengthening of the Houthis puts another critical route under pressure. One possible option for the US is to expand intelligence support for Saudi Arabia. The article also suggests that the strengthening of the Houthis could increase Israel's importance in regional security if Riyadh requests assistance.