Secretary of State Marco Rubio Charges Iran with Smuggling IRGC Operatives into Yemen Amid Rising Houthi Tensions

Iran’s alleged oil blockade has triggered turmoil in the Red Sea and sent shockwaves through crude markets.

Dagen McDowell notes that Iran’s financial backing of terrorist proxies, such as the Houthis in Yemen, has prompted a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia. This escalation threatens vital oil shipping lanes in the Red Sea, keeping global investors on edge amid fears of economic fallout.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran on Wednesday of flying members of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps into Yemen, asserting that Tehran’s actions have sparked a fresh confrontation between Saudi Arabia and the Iran‑backed Houthi rebels.

Rubio told reporters, “They decided to send direct flights from Tehran into Yemen, carrying IRGC personnel and others into the country,” adding that Saudi Arabia responded accordingly.

Rubio did not disclose details about the flights, the number of IRGC personnel allegedly moved, or any evidence to substantiate the claim.

Rubio says the United States remains open to talks with Iran but warns that there will be consequences.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks during a press conference on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay, Metro Manila on July 22, 2026. (Brendan SMIALOWSKI / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

He made these remarks while attending the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila, Philippines, where the U.S.-Iran conflict and threats to international shipping were key security topics.

The Houthis have declared a blockade aimed at Saudi‑linked vessels in the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait, a move that could broaden the conflict and disrupt a vital global trade corridor.

The rebels say they are targeting vessels linked to Saudi Arabia or those heading to and from the kingdom’s Red Sea ports, citing Saudi restrictions on Yemen and a recent attack on the Houthi‑controlled Sanaa airport as justification.

Iran‑backed Houthi proxies threaten fresh attacks following Yemen airport strike.

Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

The Houthis blamed Saudi Arabia for the airport attack, claiming it was meant to prevent a flight carrying Houthi leaders from returning from Iran. Rubio rejected that narrative, asserting that Tehran used direct flights to ferry IRGC personnel and others into Yemen.

The Houthis subsequently launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport, marking one of the most serious clashes between the two sides in years.

Rubio said U.S. officials have repeatedly engaged with Saudi counterparts over the past week regarding the Houthi threat.

Iran urges the Houthis to prepare to sever the Red Sea gateway — but can the militant group actually do it?

Rubio warned, “Anything that restricts shipping through the Red Sea would be problematic for the same reasons that the Strait of Hormuz is problematic,” adding, “We are monitoring the situation closely.”

Saudi Arabia’s military has pledged to keep the Bab el‑Mandeb Strait open and to respond forcefully to any Houthi threats against commercial vessels using the route.

The narrow strait links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and functions as a major shipping corridor between Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal, handling roughly 12% of global trade and about one‑quarter of worldwide container traffic.

Its significance has risen as the U.S.–Iran conflict has sharply reduced traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Saudi Arabia to depend more heavily on Red Sea export routes for its oil shipments.

A Houthi follower looks on, during a pro-Iran demonstration, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, in Sanaa, Yemen April 6, 2026. (Khaled Abdullah/Reuters)

The Houthi‑run SABA news agency asserted that six vessels changed course after receiving warnings from the group, a claim that could not be independently verified.

The Houthis maintain that the blockade applies only to Saudi‑linked shipping, yet during their earlier campaign tied to the Gaza war they struck more than 100 vessels, many of which had little or no obvious connection to Israel.

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the latest Houthi threat had not yet materialized.

Trump told reporters, “So far, it hasn’t happened,” adding, “If anything does occur, we’ll handle it.”

Rubio’s accusation coincided with the U.S. military’s 11th straight night of strikes on targets in Iran; U.S. Central Command said the latest hits struck aircraft hangars and drone storage sites.

Speaking to Southeast Asian leaders, Rubio warned that permitting Iran to dominate the Strait of Hormuz, impose tolls, and attack non‑compliant vessels would establish a dangerous precedent for global waterways.

Rubio continued, “If we allow a Middle Eastern nation to claim control of an international waterway, levy a toll, and destroy ships that refuse to pay, we create a perilous precedent that could be replicated elsewhere, including in this region.”

Rubio said Iran’s backing of the Houthis reflects a wider pattern of supporting armed groups throughout the Middle East.

Rubio stated, “The Houthis, Hezbollah, Iraqi militias, and Hamas — this is where Iran directs its funds,” adding, “It is not spent on its own people but on sponsoring terrorist organizations and destabilizing forces in the region.”

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