Saudi Arabia Urges US to Lift Hormuz Strait Blockade Amid Bab el-Mandeb Concerns
Following the breakdown of negotiations with Iran, US President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia is reportedly urging Trump to reconsider, fearing Iran might open another front by disrupting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, their only remaining shipping route. The blockade of Hormuz, controlled by Iran, halted 13 million barrels/day of oil exports and pushed international oil prices above $100/barrel.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 18:05
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 18:31 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 14, 2026 at 20:48 (2h 16m after Collected)
Major News on US-Iran War
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Riyadh, April 14, Comprehensive Foreign Report) US President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with Iran broke down. Saudi Arabia is reportedly urging Trump to reverse his decision, fearing that Iran might open another front and disrupt the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is currently Saudi Arabia's only remaining shipping route.
After the US and Israel went to war with Iran on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint in the Persian Gulf and one of the world's key energy transportation routes, came under Iranian control, bringing shipping almost to a standstill. After failing to get Iran to fully restore passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump announced the US blockade of the strait.
The Wall Street Journal points out that the Bab el-Mandeb, meaning "Gate of Tears," is a narrow waterway located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Bab el-Mandeb is also one of the most important hubs for shipping to the Suez Canal, connecting Asia and Europe.
Early in the war, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz by attacking ships navigating the waterway, cutting off approximately 13 million barrels of oil exports per day and pushing international oil prices above $100 per barrel.
After the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz was obstructed, Saudi Arabia rerouted crude oil across the desert to the Red Sea for export, largely restoring oil exports to about 7 million barrels per day, similar to pre-war levels. However, the consequences would be dire if the Red Sea export channel were also blocked.
Originally, Trump's intensified blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was intended to put greater pressure on Iran's already struggling economy. But unnamed officials said Saudi Arabia had warned that the US move could provoke Iranian retaliation, closing Saudi Arabia's only remaining oil export route.
Iran's allies in Yemen, the Houthi armed group, control a long stretch of coastline near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and had severely disrupted local waterways for a long time during the Gaza War. Arab officials said Iran was seeking the Houthis to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb again.
Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian semi-official media outlet closely associated with the Revolutionary Guard, stated that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could prompt Iran to close the Red Sea entrance.
Arab officials revealed that Saudi Arabia had informed the US that if Iran continued to exert pressure, the Houthis might intervene, and even imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb could not be ruled out. (Compiler: Chen Yi-wei) 1150414
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Riyadh, April 14, Comprehensive Foreign Report) US President Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with Iran broke down. Saudi Arabia is reportedly urging Trump to reverse his decision, fearing that Iran might open another front and disrupt the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is currently Saudi Arabia's only remaining shipping route.
After the US and Israel went to war with Iran on February 28, the Strait of Hormuz, a vital chokepoint in the Persian Gulf and one of the world's key energy transportation routes, came under Iranian control, bringing shipping almost to a standstill. After failing to get Iran to fully restore passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump announced the US blockade of the strait.
The Wall Street Journal points out that the Bab el-Mandeb, meaning "Gate of Tears," is a narrow waterway located between Yemen and the Horn of Africa, connecting the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. The Bab el-Mandeb is also one of the most important hubs for shipping to the Suez Canal, connecting Asia and Europe.
Early in the war, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz by attacking ships navigating the waterway, cutting off approximately 13 million barrels of oil exports per day and pushing international oil prices above $100 per barrel.
After the shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz was obstructed, Saudi Arabia rerouted crude oil across the desert to the Red Sea for export, largely restoring oil exports to about 7 million barrels per day, similar to pre-war levels. However, the consequences would be dire if the Red Sea export channel were also blocked.
Originally, Trump's intensified blockade of the Strait of Hormuz was intended to put greater pressure on Iran's already struggling economy. But unnamed officials said Saudi Arabia had warned that the US move could provoke Iranian retaliation, closing Saudi Arabia's only remaining oil export route.
Iran's allies in Yemen, the Houthi armed group, control a long stretch of coastline near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and had severely disrupted local waterways for a long time during the Gaza War. Arab officials said Iran was seeking the Houthis to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb again.
Tasnim News Agency, an Iranian semi-official media outlet closely associated with the Revolutionary Guard, stated that the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could prompt Iran to close the Red Sea entrance.
Arab officials revealed that Saudi Arabia had informed the US that if Iran continued to exert pressure, the Houthis might intervene, and even imposing transit fees on ships passing through the Bab el-Mandeb could not be ruled out. (Compiler: Chen Yi-wei) 1150414
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.