Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb has decreased after Yemen's Houthi rebels continued to attack Saudi oil facilities along the Red Sea coast as the group seeks to enforce an embargo of the country.
Citing data from intelligence firm Kpler, Reuters detailed that only eleven commodity ships passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Sunday, the lowest figure in months.
Some tankers are already avoiding the waterway and will sail to Asia through the Suez Canal as a result of Houthi hostilities, according to another report.
Reuters cited the example of a Danish-flagged tanker carrying oil products called Torm Innovation. A spokesperson told the outlet that "given the security situation in the southern part of the Red Sea, the vessel is sailing via the Suez and around the Cape to Asia. This reflects our cautious approach to crew safety, which remains our highest priority." "We will continue to monitor the situation closely as it develops," the spokesperson added.
The outlet added that diverting through the Suez Canal adds around 30 days of journey to destinations if ships can't go through Bab-el Mandeb. The closure of the waterway by the Houthis could exacerbate potential shortages with the Strait of Hormuz also closed due to increased clashes between the U.S. and Iran.
The Houthis have received help from Iran to help them enforce the blockade, according to another report.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters detailed that Iran flew military commanders, equipment and gold to the country.
"The IRGC commanders travelled there to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems," one source told the outlet, adding that the flight also included gold to fund the activities.
Oil prices have plummeted despite the developments as the U.S. and Iran halted strikes around the Strait of Hormuz over the past days. Additional data from Kpler showed that fewer than 10 commodity ships passed through the waterway over the weekend despite that.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran is not seeking more talks. Speaking in a press conference on Monday, Baghaei said the country had not asked to resume talks because it is not on the country's "DNA."
He went on to say that Tehran still controls the Strait of Hormuz, where it has been targeting ships that do not coordinate passage with its forces. Iran will seek to charge tolls for passage.
In fact, Iranian media outlets said the country turned around six "offending ships" that sought to cross the waterway without authorization.
"As previously announced, the traffic route in the Strait of Hormuz is the route specified by Iran, and other routes are contaminated and have no way out," a source told local press.
