IRGC threatens to close Bab al-Mandab

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has issued a direct threat to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a critical chokepoint for global shipping in the Red Sea. This threat represents an escalation of Iran's maritime pressure tactics amid ongoing tensions with the United States, which is enforcing a naval blockade against Iran. The IRGC's statement directly links the potential closure to the U.S. blockade, signaling a readiness to disrupt international trade routes.