Iran Braces for Renewed War; Bab-el-Mandeb, a Possible Alternative Route to the Strait of Hormuz, Could Become a New Flashpoint

\r\n[Financial News] Reports said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is preparing for a renewed war with the United States and Israel. If fighting resumes, major Middle Eastern hubs tied to oil production and transport could once again be drawn into conflict.
On the 19th local time, Tasnim News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), claimed that recent movements by the United States had been detected, including the deployment of several large transport aircraft such as Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III planes to move weapons and the relocation of multiple warships. It also said U.S. forces were practicing operations to seize islands and coastal areas in Bahrain, while U.S. reconnaissance aircraft were frequently seen flying over the islands.
Tasnim News Agency said Iran is viewing the situation through two scenarios. The first is that the United States is trying to gain leverage in negotiations by using military power as psychological pressure. The second is that Washington is disguising talks while preparing a surprise military strike on Iranian islands.
Tasnim News Agency said, "The American terrorists have extensive experience in deception through negotiations," citing U.S. attacks on Iran in June last year and February this year, when nuclear talks between the two countries were in full swing. It added, "Iran believes the likelihood of a war scenario is higher than the continuation of negotiations this time as well."
The outlet emphasized, "If war breaks out and Iran's infrastructure is attacked again, Iran will completely abandon some of the restrictions it observed during the first war regarding Bab-el-Mandeb, Saudi Aramco, Yanbu and Fujairah."
The Bab-el-Mandeb Strait is a global logistics artery that connects the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, and the report suggested that even this alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz for oil transport could be blocked. It also cited Saudi Aramco, the Yanbu industrial complex on the Red Sea coast where Saudi Arabia's key pipelines are located, and the Fujairah port in the UAE, a major oil export route through the Gulf of Oman. The report said that if the United States were to strike again from behind, Iran would retaliate by directly targeting key infrastructure in Gulf oil-producing countries.
Tasnim News Agency claimed, "Iran has fully restarted all of its missile and drone bases by making the most of the golden opportunity provided by the ceasefire," adding, "If war breaks out again, hundreds of ballistic missiles will be launched within the first few hours."
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chaewan Reporter