Trump Threatens More Attacks on Iran After Houthis Join War

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessTrump Threatens More Attacks on Iran After Houthis Join WarUS President Donald Trump said he’ll hold Iran responsible for any further attacks by the Yemen-based Houthis on Red Sea ships, potentially widening Washington’s involvement in a Middle East war that shows no sign of abating.Author of the article:Courtney Subramanian and Eltaf Najafizada You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.tb84x8dw2hkq56b[z7v}}h0x_media_dl_1.png Bloomberg(Bloomberg) — US President Donald Trump said he’ll hold Iran responsible for any further attacks by the Yemen-based Houthis on Red Sea ships, potentially widening Washington’s involvement in a Middle East war that shows no sign of abating.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountThe Iran-backed Houthis earlier claimed attacks on two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, the group’s first for several months and opening a new front in the US-Iran conflict that has already disrupted global energy supplies and rattled bond markets.The developments helped push oil prices up further, with Brent crude jumping more than 6% on Thursday to $100 a barrel, a level it’s not touched in almost two months. Since July 10, around when the latest US-Iran flare-up began, it’s gained more than 30%.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“If they do this again, the US will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves.”A day earlier, Trump threatened to escalate airstrikes against Iran — now into their second week — saying American forces will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Tehran shoots at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has warned it will attack infrastructure and bridges in the region, including energy facilities, if Trump follows through. The resurgence of the US-Iran conflict shows little sign of easing, with neither Washington nor Iran backing down or saying it’s time for new negotiations. The attacks by the Houthis have intensified the conflict, even if hostilities remain less intense than during the height of the war in March and early April.The Houthis said they targeted the Saudi tankers in the Red Sea with missiles and drones. The Saudi government confirmed an attack on one refined-products tanker, called the Encelia. The British navy said a tanker was struck in the southern part of the sea near the Saudi town of Al Shuqaiq in the southern part of the sea.The Houthis said the second vessel was named Layla, which is a crude-oil carrier.While it’s unclear if the ships were damaged, the move could effectively close another maritime chokepoint vital to energy markets, following Iran’s shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Some vessels are already avoiding the Bab el-Mandeb strait at the mouth of the Red Sea, with oil prices rising further.The US carried out its 12th consecutive day of airstrikes on Iranian military sites overnight, including missile and air-defense facilities. Iranian state TV reported one attack on the passenger terminal at the Shalamcheh border crossing with Iraq, killing two people. Iran again fired upon US bases and military sites in Kuwait and Jordan.Trump said Wednesday that Iran is “getting hit so hard” but added he isn’t at the point of seriously considering fresh talks.This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.“They’re not ready to make a deal because every time they make a deal, they want to change it and everything,” he said at a rally in Georgia.Iranian officials have been similarly dismissive of the prospect of returning to the negotiating table. “There is no real problem with conveying messages — the issue lies in the US approach, which is illogical, excessively demanding and hegemonic,” Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state TV. “That approach has been met with a firm response from us. As long as the United States fails to understand that the only way forward is to respect the Iranian people and Iran’s national interests, there is no prospect of progress on this front.”The Red Sea has emerged as a vital workaround for crude exports, particularly from Saudi Arabia. The port of Yanbu became the main outlet for Saudi oil exports, allowing it to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, through which hardly any vessels are sailing.The Houthis have sent emails to international vessel owners, warning them not to go to the kingdom’s ports. Incidents involving non-Saudi vessels would add an extra layer of risk for the industry and shipping crews.The Houthis are part of Iran’s Axis of Resistance, a loose alliance of armed groups funded and trained by the Islamic Republic but operating with a degree of autonomy. The Houthis, who control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and the Red Sea port of Hodeida, disrupted shipping with drone and missile attacks after Israel began its assault against Hamas in Gaza in 2023. However, they ended that campaign in May 2025 in a truce with the US, which had bombed them along with the UK and Israel.The new Houthi strikes come days after the group said it would blockade Saudi ports in response to the kingdom attacking Sanaa, following rising tensions in the past few weeks. Riyadh carried out an air campaign for around seven years to oust the Islamist group, before the two sides agreed a ceasefire in 2022.The US resumed a naval blockade of Iran soon after the flare-up in fighting about two weeks ago. It also ended a waiver on Iranian oil sanctions.The moves and the skirmishing mean an interim US-Iran peace deal signed in mid-June — designed to lead to negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program and a permanent peace deal in two months — has all but collapsed.The US says Iran must reopen Hormuz and stop attacking commercial ships for it to halt its bombing of the Islamic Republic.The economic fallout from the war, particularly high fuel prices, is weighing heavily on Americans as the November midterm elections approach. Trump has received poor marks for his handling of the economy and the conflict, polls show, putting his fellow Republicans at risk of losing control of Congress.US gasoline pump prices are back above $4 a gallon.(Updates with oil prices in sixth paragraph.)Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.