Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued an implicit warning regarding the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a key maritime passage linking the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The statement came on Saturday through a post on social media platform X, where Ghalibaf questioned how much of the world’s oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments pass through the strait and which countries and companies rely most on it. His remarks were interpreted as a clear caution to commercial vessels operating in the area.

The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, though less critical than the Strait of Hormuz, remains a vital route for global maritime trade, handling around 14 percent of commercial shipments, including about 5 percent of global oil supply. The strait’s security has been a growing concern for industries since Iran-backed Houthi forces, who control large parts of Yemen, became involved in regional conflicts. Iran has already maintained effective control over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts note that instability around Bab al-Mandeb could further strain global shipping and energy supply routes if tensions escalate.