Trump threatens Iran over Houthi tanker attacks as Red Sea blockade bites

U.S. President Donald Trump warned that Washington will hold Iran responsible for any future Houthi attacks on shipping, threatening "major military punishment" against both Tehran and the Yemeni group after it struck two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, an escalation that sent oil above $99 a barrel for the first time since late May.

The Houthi strikes on the Encelia and Layla, launched to enforce a newly declared maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia, open a second front against Gulf oil exports already squeezed by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and threaten to unravel a four-year Saudi-Houthi ceasefire as Oman scrambles to revive peace talks.

A year ago, the United States of America attacked, very powerfully, the Houthis for their interference with commerce and trade by shooting at ships. Since that time, and during our conflict with Iran, they have acted very responsibly. Unfortunately, now they are starting up again, shooting at two Saudi Arabian ships last night," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Please let this truth serve to represent that if they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible in that the Houthis are a surrogate and/or proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis themselves, who I am very disappointed with in that they have, until now, acted very professionally and smart," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Manila, said the Houthis "got suckered into this by the Iranians" and urged them to de-escalate.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group targeted the Saudi tankers Encelia and Layla with ballistic and cruise missiles and drones for violating its blockade, claiming direct hits and saying the operation forced nearly 10 vessels to retreat.

The Houthi official vowed to maintain a "blockade-for-blockade" equation against Saudi Arabia and warned that any attack on Yemen would be met with major operations deep inside Saudi territory.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a fire aboard a tanker struck by a projectile about 70 nautical miles southwest of Al Shaqiq, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia's Transport General Authority confirmed the Encelia, belonging to a Saudi company, was targeted in the Red Sea, causing a fire at the vessel's bow, with all crew members safe, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

Riyadh called the attack a violation of international law and said it would take all measures necessary to protect Red Sea shipping. The Saudi-led coalition vowed a "firm and forceful" response.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas condemned the attack as "unacceptable and illegal" and the blockade threats as "a dangerous escalation," saying navigation "must be unimpeded" in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.

Nine ships made U-turns after the announcement, Agence France-Presse (AFP) data analysis showed, though some later resumed course.

The stakes for Riyadh are enormous. With Iran having closed the Strait of Hormuz, Saudi Arabia has rerouted crude through its east-west pipeline to Yanbu port on the Red Sea, exporting nearly 4.9 million barrels of crude and refined fuels a day, according to Kpler.

Brent crude rose almost 5% to $99 a barrel, taking its gains this month to more than 30%.