Sanaa, Yemen. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a maritime embargo on Saudi Arabia, widening risks to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf amid the war between Iran and the United States.
The announcement came as Tehran and Washington showed signs of pursuing renewed diplomacy after attacks undermined an interim agreement signed last month.
Maritime embargo
The Houthis’ armed forces said they were declaring “a maritime embargo against the criminal Saudi enemy,” effective immediately, in response to what they described as an “unjust and oppressive siege” imposed on Yemen by Saudi Arabia.
There was no immediate response from Saudi Arabia.
Iran had been pressing the Houthis to close the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea if the United States continued attacking Iranian power infrastructure. A full closure of the strait would cut global oil supply by 7% by preventing most Saudi oil exports from leaving the region, according to the source text.
The disruption would add to reduced global oil flows from the Gulf war, which has already cut shipments by 10% of global supply. Oil prices briefly rose after the Houthi statement before retreating on hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Ceasefire contacts
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire aimed at salvaging the interim agreement and paving the way for a lasting deal to end the war.
The conflict began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, according to the source text.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry said mediators had recently presented proposals to Tehran, indicating that diplomatic contacts remained active. Neither the ministry nor the Iranian official provided further details on the reported ceasefire discussions.
Pakistan mediation request
Two Pakistani government sources said Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, during his second visit to Islamabad in less than a week, asked Pakistan to resume mediation efforts between Iran and the United States.
The diplomatic activity followed another night of U.S. strikes on Iranian cities and attacks by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on U.S. military assets across the region.
