Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement announced on Monday a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, citing retaliation for what it called an unjust blockade imposed on Yemen. The declaration came amid intensifying military exchanges between Iran and the United States, marking a new escalation in the regional conflict. The Houthis said the blockade would take effect immediately under a policy of 'an eye for an eye.' Saudi Arabia has not yet issued any response to the announcement.

The move follows ten consecutive nights of U.S. strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks by Tehran on American-linked sites across several Middle Eastern countries. These developments have effectively collapsed a memorandum of understanding signed between Tehran and Washington last month. Despite the hostilities, both sides have signaled possible interest in returning to diplomatic talks.

According to the report, Tehran had pressured the Houthis to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait if U.S. attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure continued. Closure of this key route between the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea could cut global oil supply by about seven percent, while the ongoing Gulf conflict has already reduced supply by roughly ten percent.