Iran vows to target key Red Sea strait if US launches ground operation: 'They should be careful'
WASHINGTON, DC: Iran has warned that any American ground operation or naval movement will force the nation to "open other fronts for them as a surprise."
This threat targets the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital Red Sea shipping route located between Yemen and Djibouti, approximately 1,200 miles off the Strait of Hormuz. It could now face direct military threats from Iranian-backed Houthis.
Tehran shifts focus to the Bab El-Mandeb Strait
The Iranian military has made it clear that its defensive strategy is no longer confined to immediate borders.
By shifting focus toward the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, situated between Yemen and Djibouti, Tehran is leveraging its proxy influence to create a secondary block for global trade.
An official military source explained the regime's posture to the Tasnim News Agency, stating, “We are constantly monitoring and keeping an eye on the enemy front’s preparations and developments.”
Iran warns of retaliation in unexpected ways
The main threat is based on using surprise attacks. If the United States initiates a ground operation on Iranian islands or seeks to bypass the closed Strait of Hormuz, Iran intends to strike back in unexpected ways.
The military source emphasized the consequences of such actions, noting, “If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran with naval movements in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, we will open other fronts for them as a surprise so that their action will not only be of no benefit to them but will also double their costs.”
Tehran denies Trump’s peace proposal
Despite a 15-point ceasefire proposal from President Trump aimed at limiting ballistic and nuclear capabilities in exchange for sanction relief, Tehran remains defiant.
Iran has rejected the deal, insisting that the conflict will conclude only on their terms while demanding war reparations and recognized sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.
The current threat is particularly serious because the Bab el-Mandeb handles 10 percent of all global sea trade and has already seen violence, such as Houthi missile attacks on US Navy ships in 2023 and 2024.
As shipping companies look toward the Red Sea as a potential alternative for oil transports, Iran has warned that this path is equally vulnerable.
The military source concluded with a direct warning to the US, “Therefore, if the Americans want to think of a solution for the Strait of Hormuz with stupid measures, they should be careful not to add another strait to their problems and predicaments,” adding that Tehran maintains the ability to create a “completely credible threat” against any vessels in the area.
