Iran talks up its ‘new cards’ to play if war with US and Israel resumes - but what are they?

NewsWorldMiddle EastIran talks up its ‘new cards’ to play if war with US and Israel resumes – but what are they?Iran may call in the Houthis to close the Bab-El-Mandeb Strait, another crucial waterway in the Middle EastAlex Croft Tuesday 21 April 2026 11:52 BSTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":true,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2961685","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-us-war-ceasefire-israel-attacks-b2961685.html","title":"Iran says it has ‘new cards’ to play if war with US resumes – but what are they?"}}CloseUS forces release video intercepting Iranian-flagged cargo vessel amid blockadeOn The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly dispatch from our international correspondentsGet a weekly international news dispatchEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_On_The_Ground_Newsletter","regTitle":"On The Ground","subscriptionGroup":"on_the_ground","subscriptionGroupId":"14806361-6435-4d19-b06e-05326605fb01","pathPrefix":["/news/world/europe","/news/world/middle-east","/news/world/australasia","/news/world/africa","/asia"],"associatedAuthors":["Bel Trew","Sam Kiley"],"title":"On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","mobileTitle":"Get a weekly international news dispatch","lengthenedMobileTitle":"Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/onTheGround1_1.png","newsletterKey":"receiveOnTheGround","regSourceSection":"Middle East","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"}}Iran has warned it has prepare...