Donald Trump could face another economic headache should Iran-backed rebels put a stranglehold on the Gate of Tears strait – a major shipping lane connecting Europe to Asia
Iran has sparked fear it could close another strait dubbed the “Gate of Tears” after it threatened retaliation for the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened Tehran could shut the Bab al-Mandeb, also known as the Gate of Tears, a stretch known for its hazardous navigation. The strait leads into the vital Red Sea shipping lane, which handles about 15 per cent of all global maritime trade and saw an estimated 21,340 ships pass through in 2023.
The Gate of Tears is particularly vulnerable to attacks from Houthi rebels, who are supported by Tehran. The major oil shipping route saw more than 100 vessels come under attack from the rebel group between 2023 and 2025.
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An adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader warned on April 5 that Iran “views Bab al-Mandeb as it does Hormuz.” Ali Akbar Velayati added that if Washington “dares to repeat its foolish mistakes, it will soon realise that the flow of global energy and trade can be disrupted with a single move.”
Speaker Ghalibaf previously said: “What share of global oil, gas, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments transits the Bab al-Mandeb Strait? Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the Strait?”
The strait is just 18 miles wide at its narrowest point and is the single sea route that connects Asia to the European market without having to travel around the African continent, saving weeks at sea. Adam Baron, a Yemen expert at New America, a policy institute based in Washington DC, told the Wall Street Journal: “If Iran does want to shut down Bab al-Mandeb the Houthis are the obvious partner to do it, and their response to the Gaza conflict demonstrates that they have the capacity to do it.”
The Houthis have largely stayed out of the Iran conflict after the US launched a large bombing campaign last year that ended in a ceasefire. But Donald Trump’s decision to shut down traffic in and out of the Strait of Hormuz could shake up the conflict once more.
The warning comes after Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman urged Trump to continue with his military campaign against Iran, describing it as a “historic opportunity” to reshape the Middle East. The Crown Prince said Iran represents a persistent threat to security in the Gulf, and that allowing the regime to continue, even if limping, would be free to potentially wreak futher havoc on the region.
Iran unexpectedly dealt a savage blow to the US when it effectively closed down the Strait of Hormuz. After oil prices surged to about $100 (£73) per barrel Trump intervened once again by ordering a blockage to shut down the waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed since Monday following failed peace talks between Vice President JD Vance and Iranian officials. Vance stated the Iranians had not been willing to agree to many of the American’s red lines.
The ceasefire deadline between the US and Iran is edging closer after Washington DC scaled back its war objectives of regime change and eradicating Tehran’s nuclear capabilities. Trump has been criticised over his handling of the war and being perceived to have followed Israel into the conflict.
