The Houthis threatened to close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait.

The Houthis in Yemen will close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait if US President Donald Trump continues to "obstruct peace." This was announced on April 19 by Hussein al-Ezzi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Houthi government.

"If Sanaa (the capital of Yemen. — Ed.) decides to close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, then all mankind and the jinn will be completely powerless to open it. Therefore, it is best for Trump — and the countries that indulge him — to immediately put an end to all actions and policies that hinder peace," Al Jazeera quoted al—Ezzi as saying.

It is noted that the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and is a key transport hub for the movement of ships to the Suez Canal. At its narrowest point, it is 29 km wide, which makes it easy for the Houthis to control it.

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The situation with oil and gas supplies in the world will worsen if the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is blocked.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) newspaper, citing officials, reported on April 14 that Iran's Houthi allies in Yemen control a long stretch of coast near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and "seriously violated" the waterway throughout most of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. According to Arab officials, Iran is putting pressure on the group to close this strategically important point again.

The head of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Cairo, Mojtaba Ferdowsipour, said on April 5 that the Houthis have the right to support Iran and the resistance forces in Lebanon and Iraq. The diplomat noted that the movement has the right to use its capabilities in the conflict.