Saudi Arabia rejects Houthi maritime embargo declaration, vows to protect Red Sea shipping

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, rejected the declaration of a maritime embargo against it by Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement, dismissing the claim as false. The Houthis had announced on Monday the immediate imposition of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on an "eye for an eye" basis, in response to what they call a blockade of Yemen.

Riyadh stressed it would use all lawful measures under international law to protect its shipping and warned of the risk of escalation in the Red Sea. The United Nations also condemned the latest Houthi threats and voiced concern over the danger of a wider regional crisis.

The move comes as vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted because of the Iran-US war. A closure of the Bab al-Mandab passage could disrupt Saudi Arabia's Red Sea crude exports (about 4.5 million barrels per day, most of it bound for Asia) and add fresh pressure on the global oil market and the Brent risk premium that matters for Iran's economy.