Is Bab el‑Mandeb Strait Iran's next global choke point after Hormuz?
India Today
With Hormuz already under pressure, Iran is now hinting at another critical chokepoint. What happens if Bab el-Mandeb is disrupted could send shockwaves through global trade and energy markets.
With the Strait of Hormuz already under strain, Iran has signalled it could widen the pressure by turning its focus to another critical global shipping route - the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising fresh concerns over supply chains and energy flows.
The remarks from Iran’s parliamentary leadership come at a time when the ongoing blockade of Hormuz has already disrupted maritime traffic and tightened global markets.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf hinted at the possibility of targeting the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in a series of posts on X, pointing to its importance in global trade.
“What share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments transits the Bab el-Mandeb Strait?” he asked.
“Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait?” he added, suggesting that Tehran is assessing where disruption could have the most impact.
What share of global oil, LNG, wheat, rice, and fertilizer shipments transits the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait?Which countries and companies account for the highest transit volumes through the strait? — | MB Ghalibaf (@mb_ghalibaf) April 3, 2026
With Hormuz already under pressure, Iran is now hinting at another critical chokepoint. What happens if Bab el-Mandeb is disrupted could send shockwaves through global trade and energy markets.
A deadly strike, a grieving leadership, and a public show of defiance. Iran questions US intent as tensions deepen. But behind the optics, a more complex and fragile reality is unfolding.
Pakistan has scheduled USD 3.5 billion loan repayments to the UAE in April, even as reserves rely on allied deposits and investment inflows remain weak amid IMF pressure.
Pakistan cut petrol prices by Rs 80 per litre to ease public anger after a steep hike a day earlier driven by global oil prices.
Pakistani transgender activist Hina Baloch claimed in a viral video that "80% of Pakistanis are gay," calling it an "open secret" hidden by social and religious pressures.
US-Iran ceasefire talks have stalled after Iran refused Islamabad meeting, calling US demands unacceptable, dealing a blow to regional mediation efforts, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a US-led Iran conflict, the administration said increased defence spending is vital for security, stressing its goal of strengthening military power to ensure peace through strength.
Delivery drivers recreated a Power Rangers-style intro in a now-viral video, with brands like Swiggy and Blinkit joining the fun in the comments and calling them real heroes.
The US President said raids have begun in Los Angeles, where prosecutors charged eight individuals in separate schemes attempting to defraud the healthcare system of USD 50 million.
A video of a man carrying an injured stray dog uphill in a remote village has gone viral, with the video emphasising a quiet act of compassion that moved the internet.
Industry analysts said it was the first time the SAT-1 serotype—a type of the disease endemic in Africa—had been detected in China, and that existing domestic vaccines for the more common O and A serotypes do not provide protection.
A late-night auto ride turned emotional after an auto-driver shared why he kept working, leaving a passenger and the internet reflecting on loneliness and life.