Oil tankers attacked as Iran threatens to turn second trade route into a ‘Gate of Tears’

NBC News Clone summarizes the latest on: Houthis Attack Oil Tankers Red Sea Iran Trump Battle Trade Hormuz Rcna588842 - World News | NBC News Clone. This article is rewritten and presented in a simplified tone for a better reader experience.

Iran-backed Houthi militants said they struck two tankers in the Red Sea, risking another bottleneck that could further disrupt global energy supplies, spike prices and heap domestic political pressure on Trump.

Satellite imagery of the Bab el Mandeb strait.Gallo Images / Copernicus Sentinel Data 2026 via Getty Images

July 23, 2026, 7:07 AM EDT / Updated July 23, 2026, 8:17 PM EDT

By Alexander Smith

Far from easing the crisis over a key global trade route, Iran has now moved to create another critical chokepoint. Tehran-backed Houthi militants said Thursday that they had struck two tankers in the Red Sea, risking another bottleneck.

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