Saudi Oil Tankers Reverse Course After Houthi Naval Blockade Threat Shakes Red Sea | NewsX World

[00:00:00]Some further developments from the Middle East. There's been a tense maritime escalation. Uh two major oil tankers carrying Saudi crude bound for Asia have abruptly reserved reversed course. I beg your pardon in the Red Sea following a direct threat from Yemen's Houthi movement. The vessels which had loaded crude for China and India made sudden U-turns after the group declared a formal naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, warning shipping companies against handling cargo at Saudi ports.

[00:00:30]The move has opened a dangerous new front in the widening regional conflict compounding global energy supply fears as traffic through the critical straight of Hormuz is already severely restricted and now there is a danger of restriction from the bubble mandib straight as well.

[00:00:47]Riyad has condemned the blockade and has vowed to protect its commercial fleet under international law. Meanwhile, the sudden disruption to the key Red Sea export routes have sent immediate shock waves through international oil markets and commercial shipping lanes. Still with us on the broadcast is Mr. Matthew Vedom. Sir, we've seen these developments take place in quick succession over the last 24 hours ever since the Houthis had made this announcement. Now with the straight of Hormuz already being blocked now the fresh threat in the bubble mandib straight that would only leave the Swiss canal route open thereby exponentially increasing um the time taken by about two to three weeks to transfer to other countries especially uh in the the the far east and um therefore raising shipping costs as well because then they'd have to take the Cape of Good Hope route and then head um that to the other side of the world. Um, where do you see this headed to? Saudi Arabia has said that it will be responding. US forces are also in the region. Uh, the fifth fleet is large uh at large is always ready and prepared. Do you see the Houthis being a tangible threat and following through with this? They they were quite famous for their attacks a couple of years back. Uh that that seemed to have died down, but it it does seem that there were some back channel talks according to reports that Iran might have pressurized the Houthis to do this.

[00:02:18]>> Yeah, I don't think I'd you wouldn't characterize them as a tangible threat.

[00:02:22]I think they're the Houthis are a real threat, but remember that they are a proxy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

[00:02:29]If they are conducting uh you know warfare or or um irregular you know asymmetric attacks you know or terrorism um then they are doing it at the uh they're doing it uh at the behest of and to benefit their masters in Iran. So you know they are willing Iran is is fine with um spreading this war around. They don't mind if the conflict goes beyond um their territory. Uh if they get more uh countries involved in in the Middle East, um um you know, this pleases them.

[00:03:12]They they think that it increases their their their chances of of winning um in the end. Uh because uh you know the hotter things get um I guess their thinking is that Donald Trump will will will chicken out that he will back off because he is he has been on this conflict hot and cold from the beginning. Hot in the beginning when uh the United States and Israel bombed uh Thran and uh killed uh Supreme Leader Ali Kam. But then when he's faced you know push back um at home you know domestically um he has been willing to um you know unilaterally call ceasefires. So the ide um because they think that that will make Donald Trump um get nervous about it and and want to back off. So there is a possibility that this conflict may escalate beyond the uh you know immediate environs of of Iran and the street of Hormuz that could definitely happen >> and this will only sow more chaos in the world especially on the economic front as well. Mr. Mr. Vim, I'd like to thank you as well for taking our time sharing your assessment and analysis with