Oman calls for de-escalation in Red Sea region amid Houthi attacks

MUSCAT — Oman on Thursday called for de-escalation in the Red Sea region after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis attacked two oil tankers in the area, as the Iran conflict widens.“The Sultanate of Oman is following with great interest the recent developments related to the situation in the Red Sea region,” the country’s foreign ministry said in a statement.The ministry expressed the need to “avoid escalation and any threats that could exacerbate the situation and endanger freedom of navigation.”The Houthis, one of Iran’s principal allies in the region, have long warned they could take action to block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, a chokepoint at the southern end of the Red Sea.Earlier this week, the Houthis declared a maritime blockade on Saudi shipping, an escalation that could further threaten global oil supplies.At least seven oil tankers have made U-turns close to Yemen since the Iran-linked group announced a “maritime embargo”, ship-tracking data shows.Nearly 15% of global sea trade moves through the Red Sea, which connects the Mediterranean and Gulf of Aden through two choke points — the Suez Canal in Egypt and the Bab al-Mandab Strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.The Red Sea has been a key route for exports of Saudi oil since the US-Israeli war with Iran led to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has severely restricted the flow of oil and gas from the Gulf.This has played a “major role in relieving pressure to global markets” and if the Houthis further restrict trade then “prices will go up”, said Rosemary Kelanic from the US-based Defense Priorities think tank.The day before the Houthis announced their blockade, 20 vessels entered the Red Sea and 22 exited via the Bab al-Mandeb strait, according to maritime intelligence firm Kpler.Kelanic said any Houthi attacks on vessels in the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden “will suppress all international traffic not just Saudi-bound vessels”, according to BBC.The EU’s naval force in the region Aspides recommended on Wednesday that “merchant vessels linked to Israeli, US or Saudi interests avoid transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until the threat level decreases”, according to an advisory seen by Reuters news agency.