TEHRAN: Iranian senior official Ali Akbar Velayati warned that repeated US mistakes could trigger the closure of Bab el-Mandeb, a key maritime route, Mehr News Agency (MNA) reported.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior member of Iran’s expediency discernment council, stated that Tehran regards Bab el-Mandeb as strategically significant, similar to the Strait of Hormuz.

Writing on his social media page, Velayati said the White House would quickly realise that global energy and trade flows could be disrupted with a single signal if it repeats “foolish mistakes.”

He added that while the US has historically learned from Iran, it has not yet fully understood the geography of regional power, implying that any attempt to challenge Iran could have immediate strategic consequences.