Saudi Arabia Urges U.S. to Abandon Plan to Block Iranian Ports

Islamabad (News Desk) — Saudi Arabia has urged the United States to drop its reported plan to blockade Iranian ports, warning that such a move could escalate tensions across the region.
According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Saudi officials have pressed the U.S. administration to avoid disrupting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and instead return to diplomatic negotiations.
Arab officials expressed concern that any attempt to shut down Iranian ports could provoke Tehran into retaliatory actions, potentially threatening other critical shipping routes in the region.
The reported U.S. strategy aims to intensify economic pressure on Iran by restricting all maritime trade to and from the country via the Strait of Hormuz, further straining its already fragile economy.
Saudi Arabia has cautioned that Iran could respond by targeting or blocking the Bab al-Mandab Strait — a vital passage in the Red Sea — which plays a crucial role in global oil shipments, including Saudi exports.
The development highlights growing regional anxieties over the risk of a broader maritime conflict that could disrupt international trade and energy supplies.