Iranian authorities on Monday said that the Strait of Hormuz was never going to return to normal for Israel and the United States as the 48-hour deadline set by US President Donald Trump nears its end.
Trump had threatened severe consequences for Iran, saying the US would attack Iranian power plants and bridges if the strait is not opened.
Iranian armed forces have said they will respond to each attack with an equal response if any of its infrastructure is targeted by the US.
A senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader has now issued a stern warning over global energy routes, suggesting key maritime chokepoints beyond the Strait of Hormuz could be targeted if the US and Israel escalate further.
Ali Akbar Velayati, an advisor to Mojtaba Khamenei, said a single miscalculation could severely disrupt global energy flows and international trade.
According to Iranian state media, the advisor said the “unified command of the resistance” views the Bab al-Mandeb Strait as “equally strategic as the Strait of Hormuz”.
He made these comments after Trump threatened to “unleash hell” on Tehran in case it does not open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday.
Velayati said while the US has learned many lessons from Iran’s history, it is yet to “learn a lesson and understand the power of geography”.
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, off the coast of Yemen, connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, serving as a critical chokepoint for shipping heading towards the Suez Canal.
The Houthis, a pro-Iranian proxy in control of parts of Yemen, could easily shut down the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in solidarity with Iran.
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