Strait of Mandeb and Strait of Hormuz break news! Iranian military: Currently hunting down U.S. troops!

Two major shipping lanes, both have breaking news!

According to Xinhua News Agency citing Iranian media reports on the 25th, Iran may open a new front in the Strait of Mandeb. The report states that Iranian military sources say that if the enemy attempts ground operations against Iranian islands or mainland, or pressures Iran through naval actions in the Persian Gulf and Oman Gulf, Iran will open a new front in the Strait of Mandeb.

Additionally, on the 25th, Iran’s military stated that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the way it was before, and future developments will be under Iran’s control. No parties from hostile forces are allowed passage, and transit permits are at Iran’s sole discretion.

On the same day, the spokesperson of Iran’s Central Command of the Hatem Ansar Army said that, given that “all U.S. military bases in the Middle East have been destroyed,” some U.S. commanders and soldiers have left their bases and are hiding at external locations. Currently, Iran’s armed forces are conducting searches. The spokesperson called on regional countries’ citizens to provide clues and said that, for their own safety, the U.S. military should be “expelled” from the region.

These series of messages indicate that the situation in Iran remains highly tense, causing sharp fluctuations in the oil market. Overnight, WTI crude oil’s decline narrowed to about 1%, after a previous drop of over 6%. During the Asian trading session this morning, WTI crude continued to rebound, currently up 0.96% at $91.19 per barrel.

Due to the overnight sharp decline in the U.S. stock storage sector, the Korean stock market plunged significantly this morning, with the index falling nearly 1.70% during trading. As of the latest, the KOSPI index in Korea narrowed its decline to 1.09%. The Japanese stock market opened high and continued to rise, with the Nikkei 225 up 0.73%.

Iran: Possibly opening a new front in the Strait of Mandeb

According to Xinhua News Agency citing Iran’s Tasnim News Agency on the 25th, an Iranian military source who wished to remain anonymous said that if the enemy attempts ground operations against Iranian islands or mainland, or pressures Iran through naval actions in the Persian Gulf and Oman Gulf, Iran will open a new front in the Strait of Mandeb.

Meanwhile, CNN reported on the 25th that Iran has been strengthening defenses at its oil export hub, Hormuz Island, over the past few weeks, deploying additional air defense units to prevent possible military actions by the U.S. to seize the island. The report cites multiple sources saying that Iran has deployed more shoulder-launched surface-to-air missiles on Hormuz Island, and laid anti-infantry and anti-tank mines along the coast to prevent amphibious assaults by the U.S. military.

Additionally, Iran’s Islamic Parliament Speaker, Kalibaf, posted on social media on the 25th that intelligence indicates “hostile forces,” supported by “a certain regional country,” are preparing to launch an operation to occupy Iranian islands. Kalibaf said all enemy movements are under Iran’s surveillance. “If they dare to take any action, we will fiercely attack all critical infrastructure of this regional country without mercy.”

The Strait of Mandeb connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, serving as a “throat” linking the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Oceans, known as the “water corridor” connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Iranian military source said Iran has the will and capability to threaten the Strait of Mandeb.

Previously, on the 20th, RIA Novosti reported that Yemen’s Houthi political bureau member Mohammed Bukhaiti said that to support Iran, the organization might block the Strait of Mandeb.

Bukhaiti told RIA Novosti that the Houthis are considering all options to support Iran in resisting U.S. and Israeli military strikes. If they have to close the Strait of Mandeb, the Houthis will only attack ships involved in attacks on Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Palestine.

Iranian military: The situation in the Strait of Hormuz will not return to the past

On the 25th, Iran’s Hatem Ansar Central Command spokesperson issued a statement saying that the regional situation has changed, and the rules of passage in the Strait of Hormuz will be redefined. Any party related to Iran’s enemies will have no right to passage.

He emphasized that the authority to grant passage lies with Iran, and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz “will not return to previous conditions.” The spokesperson also stated that the U.S. and Israel “are trapped,” and this is becoming increasingly evident. “Not only are your bases destroyed, but the order you built is also collapsing.”

Earlier that day, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations issued a statement saying that ships from non-combatant countries can pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz.

On the same day, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement to all members of the International Maritime Organization, saying that ships from non-hostile countries that do not participate in or support aggression against Iran, and strictly follow published safety and security regulations, can enjoy safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz after coordination with Iranian authorities.

The statement emphasized that ships, equipment, and assets belonging to the U.S., Israel, and other parties involved in aggression do not enjoy innocent passage or non-hostile passage rights. Under the legal framework of armed conflict, such assets will be handled according to decisions and measures taken by Iran’s authorities.

The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime route for global oil transportation. As the only passage from the Persian Gulf to the outside world, over a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade and about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas transportation pass through it. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that in 2024, about 20 million barrels of oil per day will be transported through the strait.

Since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict, shipping through the critical energy route, the Strait of Hormuz, has been severely disrupted. Market service data shows that since March, the number of ships passing through this strait has decreased by 95% compared to before the conflict.

According to CCTV News, on March 25, UN Secretary-General Guterres told the media at the New York headquarters that the Middle East conflict has been “out of control” for over three weeks, pushing the world toward greater war risks, humanitarian suffering, and deeper global economic shocks.

Guterres reiterated the need to respect navigation rights and freedom of navigation in key maritime passages, including the Strait of Hormuz. He said that the ongoing global planting season makes the long-term closure of the Strait of Hormuz a barrier to the transportation of oil, natural gas, and fertilizers.