Iran threatens to block SECOND major oil strait as 'Gate of Tears' sparks cost of living fears

Iran threatens to block SECOND major oil strait as 'Gate of Tears' sparks cost of living fearsIran, which is yet to complete talks with US negotiators, is holding another card it could use to further disrupt the global economy if Islamabad talks turn sourCommentsNewsChris Hughes Defence and Security Editor and Liam Doyle13:54, 21 Apr 2026Updated 13:55, 21 Apr 2026View 4 ImagesYemeni soldiers, who are aligned with Iran, could shut down the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait(Image: AP)Cost of living fears sparked by Donald Trump's war with Iran have been ratcheted up to a new degree as the defending regime eyes closing a second strait - which it could use to inflict maximum economic damage on western economies.‌Uncertainty around the status of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical trade artery Iran has kept largely shuttered since entering a ceasefire with the Trump administration, has meant that prices of crude oil - and oil-based products like petrol - have remained sky-high. While peace deal negotiations are set to resume today in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, leaders on both sides of the divide have been flexing their muscles.‌In Iran's case, those muscles come in the form of the Hormuz strait and its western twin, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which translates to "Gate of Tears" in English, has become a critical alternative.‌READ MORE: Iran war live: Trump says Starmer has 'time to recover' as Islamabad talks loomREAD MORE: Iran still has huge stockpile of weapons despite Trump's claims he's winning warView 4 ImagesThe next round of negotiations between the US and Iran will begin today(Image: Getty Images)The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is being used as an alternative shipping passage while Hormuz is closed, with hundreds of ships passing through the area every day while traffic stalls in the latter. Unlike Hormuz, however, Iran does not have direct control over the alternative route, which is several thousand miles to the we...