Yemen’s Houthi rebels are considering imposing transit fees on commercial ships sailing through the southern Red Sea, a move that could further disrupt one of the world’s busiest shipping routes and deepen concerns over global energy supplies.
Sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that the Iran-backed group is exploring plans to charge vessels passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
The proposal comes barely a week after the Houthis announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, expanding their campaign against the United States and its allies amid the escalating regional conflict.
Although no date has been fixed for the implementation of the charges, sources said the group is considering applying the fees to most commercial vessels using the route.
The Houthis have yet to officially comment on the reports.
According to regional officials, Houthi representatives travelled to Iran earlier this month for the funeral of the country’s late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where Iranian officials reportedly discussed the proposed transit fee arrangement with them.
The sources said the plan is aimed at normalising the collection of fees on international waterways while increasing pressure on the United States and its allies.
Chinese vessels, however, could be exempted from the proposed charges under the arrangement being considered.
China has maintained direct contacts with the Houthis to ensure its commercial vessels can safely transit the Red Sea without coming under attack. Beijing is also the world’s largest importer of Saudi crude oil.
Regional officials further disclosed that Iranian advisers accompanied Houthi officials back to Yemen to assist in designing a regulatory system that could oversee the collection of transit fees at the Bab el-Mandeb.
Afrah al-Zouba, Yemen’s designated foreign minister under the internationally recognised government, said the Houthis appear determined to establish greater control over the strategic waterway.
“They will try to gain control over the Red Sea, and if they succeed, they will seek to charge ships passing through it,” she said.
Diplomatic sources warned that any attempt by the Houthis to impose transit fees would likely face strong opposition from Gulf states and European countries.
However, they noted that international naval forces operating in the region are already overstretched, making it increasingly difficult to guarantee the safety of commercial shipping.
The development comes as efforts to ease tensions in the region suffer another setback.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran had rejected Oman’s proposal for a joint regional management of the Strait of Hormuz that would have allowed ships to pay voluntary transit fees, effectively dashing hopes of restoring normal trade through the Gulf.
Analysts warn that any disruption at the Bab el-Mandeb could pose a serious threat to Saudi Arabia’s oil exports by limiting access to one of its most important alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz.
Commercial shipping through the Red Sea has remained below normal levels since the Houthis began attacking vessels in late 2023 in what they described as support for Palestinians during the Gaza conflict.
Although attacks eased following a ceasefire last year, fresh hostilities have reignited fears of prolonged disruptions to global trade.
Last week, the Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a Saudi-linked tanker near the southern Saudi port of Jizan.
A 2024 United Nations Panel of Experts report also alleged that the Houthis collected payments from some shipping operators in exchange for safe passage through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, although the UN said it could not independently verify the claims.
The report estimated that such payments may have generated as much as $180 million monthly.
The Bab el-Mandeb remains one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Ships travelling through the route to Asia typically complete the journey in about 16 days, compared with nearly 50 days if forced to reroute around southern Africa.
