Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi forces seized Perim Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait around September 11, completing a lightning offensive that tightens their grip on the southern mouth of the Red Sea [1][2]. Perim sits at the chokepoint where Bab el-Mandeb connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden — the primary alternative route for Gulf oil when the Strait of Hormuz is blocked. The capture threatens Saudi oil export infrastructure and further restricts options for rerouting Gulf shipping [1].

Diplomatic efforts to manage Hormuz traffic stalled simultaneously. Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi postponed the September 14 regional meeting in Salalah 'in the interests of consensus' [3][4]. Iran and Oman had finalized a maritime route agreement with maps, but Iran's president insisted the strait would only reopen if the US terminates its blockade [3][4]. Only Iraq confirmed attending the meeting; Bahrain refused, citing absent diplomatic relations with Tehran [3][4].

Separately, an Iranian cargo vessel was struck near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz early September 13, killing one and wounding four per Iranian state media [3]. UKMTO separately recorded a projectile hit on a transiting vessel with severe fire and crew evacuation [3]. Commercial traffic through Hormuz remains low; the insurance-based effective closure is operative and oil passage cannot be confirmed from available sources [3].

The Saudi East-West pipeline was shut following drone attacks, most likely Houthi [4]. Analysts warned up to 4% of global oil supply could be jeopardized on top of barrels already lost to Hormuz disruption [4]. The combined effect of Hormuz blockage plus Bab el-Mandeb escalation narrows Gulf oil export options sharply.