Iran’s parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has suggested that another key maritime route could be targeted, raising fresh concerns over global shipping.
In a message posted late Friday, he questioned which countries and companies rely most on the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a move widely seen as a warning about potential disruption.
The Bab el-Mandeb is a narrow but vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, with a significant share of global oil shipments and container traffic passing through it.
The remarks come as the regional conflict continues to escalate, with heavy casualties reported across multiple countries.
More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began. In Israel, at least 19 people have died, while over a dozen US service members have also been reported killed.
In Lebanon, the conflict has caused widespread devastation, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and over one million displaced. Additional casualties have also been reported in Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank.
The latest comments have added to fears that tensions could further impact global trade routes and deepen instability in the region.
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