Pro-Iran Houthi Rebels Impose Maritime Blockade on Saudi Arabia... Trump Warns "Iran Will Pay Several Times Over"

Concerns Mount Over Potential Shutting of Hormuz Alternative Route
U.S. Remains Firm Despite Ceasefire Proposals by Mediating Nations

Reuters Yonhap News

Yemeni Houthi rebels, an Iran-backed armed group, have launched a maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia, putting the Red Sea shipping route at risk of closure. If the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea, which has been used as an alternative to the Strait of Hormuz, is also blocked, it is expected that oil supply and demand will significantly deteriorate. Mediating countries are proposing ceasefires, but concerns are growing over a prolonged conflict as the United States has been reluctant to accept these proposals.

According to Bloomberg on July 20 (local time), the Houthi rebels issued a statement that day declaring, "We are announcing a maritime blockade against our enemies in Saudi Arabia, the criminal state, and this takes effect immediately." They explained, "This action is a response to the blockade of Saudi ports and airports and last week's attack on Sanaa Airport. We will respond to their blockade with our own blockade." However, the rebels did not specify exactly how they would enforce the maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia immediately pushed back. The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning "the Houthi rebels' threats to ban maritime navigation to and from Saudi Arabia," and emphasized that "all measures will be taken to protect our vessels in accordance with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea." Concerns over worsening oil supply and demand are growing following the Houthi rebels' declaration of a maritime blockade. As the war with Iran has made it difficult for ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea route has been used as an alternative; now, this alternative faces the risk of closure as well.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February, Saudi Arabia has mostly exported crude oil through Yanbu port, located in the Red Sea region. In July, the volume of crude oil transported from Yanbu exceeded 4 million barrels, more than quadrupling from the pre-war daily level of 970,000 barrels.

Even as fears grow over oil supply and demand, the conflict between the United States and Iran continues. On this day, the U.S. military carried out airstrikes against Iran for the tenth consecutive day. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), which is overseeing the Iran war, announced on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that "at 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the 20th, pursuant to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, new airstrikes against Iran have begun."

U.S. President Donald Trump also reiterated his intention to retaliate against Iran with additional airstrikes. On his social media platform, Truth Social, he stated, "Every time Iran kills a U.S. soldier, they will pay the price several times over," and emphasized, "This directive has been conveyed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Cain, and the entire military command."

Iran, for its part, has shown no sign of backing down. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, at the Supreme Judiciary Council meeting in Tehran, stated, "Iran is currently engaged in an all-out war with the United States, and our enemies are realizing that they cannot subjugate the Iranian people through military attacks alone," adding, "We will fight to the last to protect the nation's interests, and there is no doubt about this."

Although Middle Eastern countries, including Qatar—who have mediated talks between the U.S. and Iran—have proposed ceasefire plans, it is reported that the United States has been reluctant to accept them. Citing U.S. government officials, CNN reported, "Mediators such as Qatar have proposed a ten-day ceasefire to ease tensions between the two sides, and diplomatic efforts are ongoing. However, since President Trump and the U.S. government are conducting retaliatory airstrikes over the recent additional deaths of U.S. soldiers, it is difficult to accept the ceasefire proposal immediately."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.