Saudi officials appear to be weighing not only the direct threat in the Gulf, but also the possibility that Iran might respond through allied forces elsewhere in the region.
Saudi Arabia is pressuring the United States to end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and return to talks with Iran, Arab officials said. The Wall Street JournalAccording to a report published on Monday.
Riyadh fears the situation could trigger wider regional escalation, such as threats to Red Sea shipping routes and Saudi oil exports, the report noted.
The kingdom is particularly concerned that the Islamic Republic could use Yemen’s Houthis to threaten the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a critical passage to the Red Sea. Such a move would put additional pressure on Saudi export routes and deepen the disruption already affecting global energy markets.
Iranian-American historian Arash Azizi has written several books on Iran The Jerusalem Post The Houthis were likely planning to close the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the “next phase” of the conflict, should the escalation continue.
However, Azizi emphasized, “There is a strong desire on the part of Iran to avoid that and, in fact, to de-escalate and seek a deal. So it’s not something they’re actively planning. They see it as a contingency plan, but their general direction is toward a deal, not an escalation.”
The Gulf states have faced Iranian missile and drone attacks on energy infrastructure, airports and urban centers during the current conflict, intensifying fears that any escalation around Hormuz would quickly spread.
Ahmed Al-Khuzai, an analyst from Bahrain, informed about this post “Gulf nations see the Strait of Hormuz as a supply lifeline, and any interruption casts a negative shadow on their core economic existence.
“They also believe that the situation in Iran must quickly come to a concrete and lasting conclusion, because prolonged uncertainty undermines regional stability and global energy security. For Saudi Arabia and its neighbors, the strait is not only a geographical chokepoint – it is an artery through which their economy breathes, carrying almost a quarter of the world’s oil trade.
“A US embargo paradoxically hurts its allies more than Iran, destabilizing markets and undermining the Gulf’s credibility as a reliable supplier.”
Trump announced on Sunday that the United States would begin blocking ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz, a move in response to Iran’s behavior and refusal to make substantial concessions in negotiations.
He also said the U.S. Navy had been instructed to intercept ships paying fees to Iran in international waters.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US November 18, 2025 (Credit: REUTERS/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN)
Banned Chinese tanker exits Gulf amid blockade
According to shipping data cited in recent coverage, the impact on shipping became visible on Tuesday when a sanctioned Chinese tanker became the first vessel to leave the Gulf via Hormuz since the blockade began. Separate reporting also highlighted warnings that traffic through the strait may not fully return to previous levels if the crisis continues.
For Riyadh, the issue is not just oil prices, but strategic risks. Saudi Arabia maintains some export flexibility through the Red Sea routes, but insecurity around Bab al-Mandeb threatens one of Hormuz’s main options.
“Their preferred response to Iran is not escalation by shutting down, but deterrence and stability. Iran has repeatedly threatened to block the strait in response to sanctions or military pressure, and the Gulf states want Washington to address these threats without starting a wider conflict,” Alkhuzai noted.
“The preferred approach is a mix of diplomatic pressure, international legitimacy through bodies such as the United Nations, and, if necessary, limited military measures to guarantee safe passage. This ensures that Iran’s coercive tactics are contained, while the Strait remains open to global trade.”
Both Washington and Tehran may be open to renewed diplomacy despite the confrontation. For Saudi Arabia, that possibility seems preferable to a protracted crisis in which pressure on the Strait of Hormuz shifts the threat to another maritime chokepoint, while the strait remains a hub for global energy flows.
“In the end, the Gulf states want the US to act as a guarantor of maritime security. The balance they seek is clear: strong enough to prevent Iranian provocations, but restrained enough to avoid punishing Gulf exporters. In short, Saudi Arabia and its allies want to protect Washington, Iran’s independence, protect the energy market and prevent Washington from using the Strait of Hormuz as a geopolitical weapon,” concluded Alkhuzai.
