The Strait of Hormuz is no longer enough: Iran's new pressure lever

Senior Revolutionary Guard officials admit in closed conversations that the Strait of Hormuz no longer provides Iran with the leverage it hoped to achieve. In Tehran, they are shifting the focus southward to Bab el-Mandeb, expanding support for the Houthis to strengthen their control over the strategic shipping route, against the backdrop of Israeli and American assistance to Saudi Arabia.

Senior Revolutionary Guard officials admit in closed conversations that the Strait of Hormuz no longer provides Iran with the leverage it hoped to achieve. Therefore, in Tehran they are now shifting the focus southward – to Bab el-Mandeb. According to the information in our possession, the Revolutionary Guards are engaged in expanding support for the Houthis and strengthening their ability to maintain control over the strategic shipping route, against the backdrop of Israeli and American assistance to Saudi Arabia. From Iran's perspective, if Hormuz is no longer a sufficiently effective lever, Bab el-Mandeb is supposed to become the next pressure card. In the background, Saudi Arabia and Yemeni government forces have launched a broad military operation against the Houthis, aiming to push them out of the strategic areas adjacent to Bab el-Mandeb and regain control over the shipping route. The Yemeni forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, have taken over positions in the Dhubab area near the strait, while the Saudi air force provides them with air cover. The operation comes after the Houthis expanded their grip on the Bab el-Mandeb area and took control last month of territories along the Red Sea coast.