Bab al-Mandeb in 2025: Iran’s Strategic Gateway to Global Influence
The Bab al-Mandeb Strait, located between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, has gained increasing geopolitical significance in recent years. For Iran, this narrow waterway is not just a shipping route—it is a strategic lever of power projection, influence, and regional deterrence. In this article, we examine Iran’s growing interest in Bab al-Mandeb, its implications for global trade, and its role in Tehran’s maritime strategy in 2025.
Why Is Bab al-Mandeb Important to Iran?
Bab al-Mandeb, which translates to “Gate of Tears,” connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints, with over 6 million barrels of oil and commercial goods passing through daily. For Iran, the strait offers a crucial geopolitical opportunity: the ability to influence or threaten Western maritime traffic headed to the Suez Canal.
Iran’s Geopolitical Ambitions Beyond the Gulf
Traditionally focused on the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has, in recent years, expanded its strategic outlook to include the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb. Through its ties with Yemen's Houthi movement, Iran has gained a proxy presence on the southwestern flank of the Arabian Peninsula, close to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. This allows Iran to exert indirect pressure on Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Western naval forces operating in the region.
Proxy Power: The Houthi Factor
Iran’s support for the Houthis in Yemen has been a game-changer in the Bab al-Mandeb region. The Houthis, aligned with Tehran, have attacked commercial shipping vessels, tankers, and naval targets using drones and ballistic missiles. These actions, though often denied by Iran, serve to remind global powers of Tehran’s extended reach and its capacity to disrupt maritime security far beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
The Red Sea Corridor: An Iranian Pressure Valve
Iran views Bab al-Mandeb as a “second front” in its strategic posture. While the Strait of Hormuz remains its primary maritime chokepoint, Bab al-Mandeb offers a backup arena for regional maneuvering. If Western powers attempt to isolate or attack Iranian interests in the Gulf, Tehran can respond via actions in the Red Sea, targeting shipping routes vital to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
Impact on Global Trade and Energy
Any Iranian-aligned disruption in Bab al-Mandeb could have serious consequences for global markets. Approximately 10% of the world's seaborne oil and a significant portion of East-West trade passes through this strait. Shipping companies and insurers have already raised concerns about increased risks and costs due to instability in the region. Iran’s involvement adds another layer of uncertainty to this maritime corridor.
Iran and the Naval Chessboard
The presence of the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain and Western naval coalitions in the Red Sea has not deterred Iran from expanding its influence. In 2025, Iran has reportedly increased its intelligence-sharing and military coordination with the Houthis, and has hinted at deploying naval assets closer to the Gulf of Aden, raising alarm in Washington and Tel Aviv.
International Reactions and Strategic Dilemmas
In response to Iran-backed activities in Bab al-Mandeb, the United States, France, and the UK have increased naval patrols and surveillance in the region. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have pushed for stronger anti-Houthi coalitions. Iran, on the other hand, uses its ambiguous presence in the area as both a bargaining chip and a strategic deterrent against possible Israeli or U.S. aggression.
The Future of Bab al-Mandeb: A Zone of Tension?
As long as Iran continues to invest in asymmetric warfare and regional proxies, Bab al-Mandeb will remain a flashpoint in Middle Eastern geopolitics. With tensions in the Gulf still unresolved and nuclear negotiations in limbo, Tehran is likely to maintain its strategic interest in the strait. For global trade, the implications are clear: Bab al-Mandeb, like Hormuz, is no longer just a waterway—it’s a geopolitical weapon.
Conclusion: Bab al-Mandeb and Iran’s Multi-Front Strategy
In 2025, Iran’s influence extends far beyond its borders. Through indirect means, it now affects two of the most important maritime chokepoints in the world: the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb. This dual-front maritime strategy allows Tehran to amplify its regional weight, challenge its adversaries, and maintain leverage in negotiations. The global community must now deal with a more complex Iranian maritime presence—one that can shape the balance of power from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea.