Houthis’ Yemen advance leaves Gulf states with uncomfortable choice
By securing a position overlooking one of the world's most important shipping arteries the Iran-aligned group has opened a second pressure point.
The Houthi takeover of the Red Sea coast in Yemen is altering the geopolitical landscape in the Persian Gulf, bolstering Iran's influence and forcing Saudi Arabia and its neighbors into a tough decision: enduring escalating expenses or negotiating with Tehran. By occupying Bab el-Mandeb, a strategic chokepoint on the world's busiest shipping lanes, the Iran-backed group has created a second pressure point, jeopardizing Saudi oil shipments rerouted through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to regional officials and analysts, the decision is clear: by intimidating Red Sea commerce while Iran restricts Hormuz, Tehran and the Houthis can inflate oil prices and exacerbate inflation while diminishing the region's reliance on Washington to resolve the situation.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
