Tehran Blocks Hormuz as Houthis Target Saudi Oil Facility in Escalating Conflict
Iran blocks Hormuz strait, Houthis attack Saudi refinery. Tensions rise between Iran, US, and Yemen rebels.
POLICY WIRE — Tehran, Iran — Iran has declared that the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until its conditions are met, according to Nournews. The waterway has seen a near-complete halt in traffic following recent attacks in the region.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that the U.S. has been delaying negotiations and imposing one-sided demands, saying the time for such tactics has ended. He emphasized that the Islamic Republic will not reopen the strait until its seven conditions—based on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding—are fulfilled, including lifting economic sanctions and halting all hostilities.
Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike on a Saudi Aramco oil refinery in Riyadh. The attack was described as retaliation for ongoing Saudi airstrikes against Sanaa and other areas in Yemen. Witnesses reported seeing large plumes of smoke rising from the facility, marking a significant escalation in cross-border violence.
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The Houthi military said the assault was a direct response to recent Saudi coalition strikes. In a separate development, Yemeni government forces announced 97 “precision targeting operations” against the rebels, claiming to have neutralized 260 militia members. Yemeni President Rashad al-Alimi also declared the start of a major military operation to reclaim territory controlled by the Houthi rebels.
Iran has also announced plans to expand its missile range following its conflict with the U.S., with military spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia stating that Iranian forces can now strike up to 1,000 km from the coast. Additionally, Iran has established a makeshift military camp in Tehran to train civilians for potential ground attacks amid heightened regional tensions.
In another development, Iraq’s Oil Tankers Company transported 2 million barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such operation in decades. Meanwhile, Russia’s deputy Security Council chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, reaffirmed Moscow’s commitment to its strategic relationship with Iran, stating that it would never sacrifice ties with Tehran for any other country.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
