# Both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb are closed to tankers as Houthis threaten the Red Sea and the US-Iran war enters its second month
> Tankers are turning back in the Red Sea after Yemen's Houthis threatened to enforce a blockade of the Bab al-Mandeb strait, while the Strait of Hormuz remains shut to commercial shipping as the US-Iran war continues; US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the war has cost the United States US$37.5 billion so far, and Iranian forces have struck US military sites in the Gulf and Jordan

**Meta:** type: event · date: 2026-07-21 · heads: 誰の金か, 戦争はどう終わるのか · 4 takes · 4 lenses · 3 regions

## Summary

Both the [Strait of Hormuz](/ja/entity/place/strait-of-hormuz) and the Bab al-Mandeb strait are effectively closed to commercial tanker traffic as of July 22. The Hormuz closure stems from the direct [US-Iran war](/ja/n/us-iran-hormuz-0720) now in its second month; [Iranian](/ja/entity/iran) forces have struck US military sites in the Gulf and in [Jordan](/ja/n/us-larak-strike-0722). The Bab al-Mandeb closure is driven by [Yemen's Houthi forces](/ja/n/houthi-saudi-blockade-0720), who have threatened and partially enforced a blockade with drones and missiles, causing tankers to turn back in the Red Sea. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators the [US](/ja/entity/united-states)-Iran conflict has cost Washington US$37.5 billion so far. Al Jazeera characterises the twin closures as a compound shipping crisis for the Persian Gulf.

## The split

US financial press (Forbes) frames both closures as linked pressure on the same oil export corridor, one by Iran directly and one by Iran's proxies. Japanese financial press (Nikkei Asia) focuses on the impact on Asian crude importers, who face the worst-case energy supply disruption scenario. US academic analysis (Northeastern) provides the structural context on Bab al-Mandeb's oil throughput. Al Jazeera covers both events as a breaking news update rather than analysis. No Gulf state or shipping industry official statement appeared in the verified feed docs.

## By the numbers

- 2, major shipping chokepoints simultaneously closed or severely disrupted
- US$37.5 billion, estimated US war cost to date (Hegseth, July 22)
- Roughly 21 million barrels per day, combined daily oil traffic through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb at normal operations

## Why it matters

The simultaneous disruption of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb is the most severe pinch on Persian Gulf oil export routes since the tanker wars of the 1980s. Combined, the two chokepoints handle roughly a fifth of global daily oil consumption. Asian importers (Japan, South Korea, India, China) have no viable alternative routing for Gulf crude at scale. Insurance rates, re-routing costs through the Cape of Good Hope, and crude spot prices are all moving in response.

## What to watch

- Whether the Bab al-Mandeb blockade hardens from Houthi threat into systematic interdiction of tankers
- Oil price movements on US crude (WTI) and Brent benchmarks
- Whether China, Japan, or South Korea activate strategic reserves
- US military response to Iranian strikes on Gulf and Jordan sites
- Whether any ceasefire or humanitarian corridor negotiation includes shipping passage as a term

## Regional takes (batched by bias / lens)

### US academic analysis
- **Northeastern University News** (United States, en) — Northeastern University expert analysis frames the Houthi Bab al-Mandeb blockade as a potential Hormuz redux, examining what simultaneous closure of both chokepoints means for shipping, oil prices, and global trade. The academic perspective provides structural context that distinguishes this piece from breaking news coverage, noting Bab al-Mandeb carries roughly 6 million barrels per day of oil traffic.
  > "Houthi rebels have blockaded Bab el-Mandeb. A Northeastern expert breaks down what it means for shipping, oil prices and global trade."
  Source: https://news.northeastern.edu/2026/07/21/houthi-blockade-bab-el-mandeb-strait/

### US financial press
- **Forbes** (United States, en) — Forbes reports ships beginning to turn back in the Red Sea after Houthi threats of Bab al-Mandeb blockade, noting Iran's Houthi allies have prepared drones and missiles for strikes in the strait. The piece frames both closures as linked, with Hormuz shut by the direct US-Iran conflict and Bab al-Mandeb threatened by Iran's proxies, effectively pinching both ends of Persian Gulf export routes.
  > "Ships Turn Around in Red Sea After Houthi Threats of Bab al-Mandeb Blockade. Iran's Houthi allies have already prepared drones and missiles for strikes in the strait."
  Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharyfolk/2026/07/22/could-bab-al-mandeb-be-the-next-strait-of-hormuz-ships-begin-turning-around-in-red-sea

### East Asian energy and shipping press
- **Nikkei Asia** (Japan, en) — Nikkei Asia covers the Red Sea tanker turnaround from the perspective of Asian energy importers: Iranian forces have targeted US military sites in the Gulf and in Jordan, and Houthis are opening a new front in the US-Iran war. For Japan and South Korea, both heavily dependent on Gulf crude, simultaneous Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb disruption is the worst-case energy supply scenario.
  > "Red Sea tankers turn back as Houthis open new front in US-Iran war. Iranian forces target US military sites in Gulf and Jordan."
  Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/iran-tensions/iran-war/red-sea-tankers-turn-back-as-houthis-open-new-front-in-us-iran-war

### unlabelled
- **Al Jazeera** (Qatar, en) — 
  Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/22/iran-gulf-hit-as-hormuz-bab-al-mandeb-close-whats-the-latest

## Across the graph
- Related: [[us-iran-hormuz-0720]], [[houthi-saudi-blockade-0720]], [[us-larak-strike-0722]], [[iran-gulf-allies-strikes-0720]]
- Entities: Place:strait of Hormuz, Iran, United States

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Canonical: https://rbtfl.xyz/ja/n/hormuz-bab-mandeb-closure-0722