- Saudi Arabia reportedly urged the US to lift Strait of Hormuz blockade and restart Iran talks
- The US began a total naval blockade of Iranian ports after failed Islamabad talks
- Saudi, according to WSJ, has warned the blockade may cause a shutdown of Bab al-Mandeb chokepoint
Saudi Arabia is urging the United States to lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and resume talks with Iran, amid fears the move could escalate tensions and disrupt critical global shipping routes, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources.
Arab officials reportedly said that the Kingdom fears President Donald Trump's "zero-transit" policy could backfire.
The US began enforcing a total naval blockade of Iranian ports as of Monday, following the collapse of the Islamabad peace talks with Iran.
ALSO READ: India Exempted From Hormuz Toll, No Vessel Charged, Says Iranian Envoy
Saudi Arabia has issued a stark warning to the Trump administration, cautioning that the current US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a retaliatory shutdown of the Bab al-Mandeb, the critical "Gate of Tears" chokepoint in the Red Sea, the WSJ report said. Arab officials say Riyadh is terrified of a "blowback" that would paralyse its own alternative export routes.
The global energy crisis has entered a dangerous new phase as oil futures surged past $100 a barrel following Iran's "full control" claim on the Strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, “President Trump has been clear that he wants the Strait of Hormuz to be fully open to facilitate the free flow of energy.”
According to Kelly, the naval blockade is a protective measure intended to support these allies by stripping Tehran of its ability to "extort the United States or any other country" through the control of energy corridors.
ALSO READ: Alternative For Hormuz Strait: How Global Oil Chokepoints Work And What They Mean For India
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