“Blocking or disrupting this vital artery puts global supply chains at risk,” he said, warning of higher prices and shortages of “food, fuel and other essential goods.” Prévot urged Iran to use its influence “for de-escalation rather than confrontation.”
Beginning in 2023, the Houthis launched a sustained campaign of attacks on shipping in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, which they said was in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during the Hamas-Israel war.
That prompted major shipping firms and oil companies — including Hapag-Lloyd, MSC, Maersk, BP and Frontline — to reroute vessels away from the Suez Canal and around Africa instead. Traffic has still not returned to pre-2023 levels, although some companies had begun testing a return to the route this summer.
According to a report by Axios, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called U.S. President Donald Trump twice Thursday to urge immediate U.S. strikes on the Houthis. Trump declined direct military action for now.
On the other side of the Arabian peninsula, U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers on Sept. 5 and another five days later, while Iran says it has retaliated against commercial vessels using what it considers unauthorized routes.
Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains far below pre-war levels, with recent maritime data putting average daily crossings in the low teens compared with approximately 138 prior to Feb. 28, when Israel and the U.S. began attacking Iran.