THE expansion of the Iran-United States war horizon is alarming for the Middle East and its neighborhood. The recent Red Sea and Caspian Sea conflicts mark new fronts in the wider Iran-US war, spreading beyond the Gulf. Besides, the direct US and Saudi Arab operations against Iranian proxy—Iraqi militia for striking Saudi oil facilities and continuing disruptions in vital shipping lanes by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran-aligned Yemen Houthis strikes in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait disrupting Red Sea trade, have severely destabilized Middle Eastern trade, having severe repercussions for the international economy.

The Red Sea has become an alternative artery for Gulf oil exports following disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz due to Israel and US aggression against Iran on February 28, 2026. Red Sea is the channel for approximately 12% of global trade and nearly 15% of seaborne trade. Both Iran and the US have restricted movement in the Strait of Hormuz to exert economic and strategic leverage since the beginning of the war. Now the Houthis are using the Bab el-Mandeb as a strategic leverage by disrupting trade in the Red Sea to settle a score with Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis are an important actor in Iran’s Axis........

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