Iran has gone too far this time! If things continue like this, we may also be affected. On July 20, according to foreign media reports, the Houthi militia in Yemen officially announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, prohibiting all Saudi maritime traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. A senior Houthi official stated that it is "unacceptable" for Saudi Arabia to continue exporting oil via the Red Sea while Yemen remains under blockade.
Evidently, with this announcement by the Houthi forces, Iran has now pushed matters to an extreme. Iran has already blocked the Strait of Hormuz, and once the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea are blocked as well, Saudi Arabia’s daily export of 4.5 million barrels of crude oil through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait will likely be impossible to carry out. What does this mean? First, if Saudi oil tankers attempt to force their way through, they will become targets for attacks by the Houthi forces. If Saudi Arabia retaliates, direct confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran could quickly escalate.
Second, for the global market, if major oil-producing country Saudi Arabia cannot transport its oil, global energy supply will be disrupted, and we will also suffer consequences. Of course, at present, the Houthi forces are only selectively restricting passage for Saudi vessels and have not yet fully intercepted all international merchant ships. However, if hostilities continue to escalate, it will be difficult to ensure precise targeting during attack operations, making navigation along the entire Red Sea route impossible. In fact, the Red Sea is a vital shipping route for China-Europe freight. Iran's decision will therefore affect the cost and efficiency of our trade with Europe. We may have no choice but to clearly state our position toward Iran to safeguard our own interests.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1871242659871808/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.