Retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis said Sunday that the United States should closely monitor Iran's activities regarding the Suez Canal, warning that Tehran may be considering using Houthi forces to disrupt one of the world's most critical waterways.
Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Stavridis noted that more traffic flows through the Suez Canal than through the Strait of Hormuz. 'The Iranians are beginning to make noises about attempting to close that, using the Houthis in the southwest corner,' he said. The retired admiral, who served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO from 2009 to 2013, framed the potential threat as a significant escalation in Iran's regional posture.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive Democrats and some foreign policy experts aligned with more diplomatic approaches have cautioned against viewing Iranian statements through a purely military lens. Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas, speaking on background to reporters, has previously argued for maintaining open channels of communication with Tehran to reduce tensions in the Gulf region.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies published analysis noting that while Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have increased over the past year, direct Iranian control of Suez Canal operations remains unlikely. 'Economic pressure through sanctions may prove more effective than military posturing,' a CSIS spokesperson wrote in a recent policy brief.
Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut has advocated for renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran, arguing that military deterrence alone cannot address the underlying tensions affecting maritime security in the region.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican defense hawks and national security officials have largely supported Stavridis's assessment as consistent with long-standing concerns about Iranian regional ambitions. Senator Jim Risch of Idaho, ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Iran's history of supporting proxy forces makes the Suez Canal threat credible.
'We have seen Iran use the Houthis to attack international shipping in the Red Sea already,' Risch said in a statement. 'It would be naive not to anticipate they might expand their targets to include the Suez Canal.'
Former Pentagon officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations have echoed concerns about maritime security. The American Enterprise Institute published analysis arguing that the U.S. Navy must maintain robust presence in the region to deter Iranian interference with global commerce.
Representative Mike McCaul of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, called for increased funding for naval operations in the Mediterranean and Red Sea to counter potential threats.
What the Numbers Show
The Suez Canal remains one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. According to the Suez Canal Authority, approximately 19,000 vessels transited the canal in 2023, carrying roughly 1.5 billion tons of cargo. The waterway handles about 12 percent of global trade and serves as the primary route for oil shipments from the Persian Gulf to Europe and North America.
By comparison, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that approximately 17-18 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily in recent years, representing roughly one-fifth of global oil consumption. While volume metrics differ between the two waterways, analysts note that Suez Canal disruptions affect container shipping and consumer goods more directly than energy shipments.
Houthi forces have claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea over the past 18 months, according to U.S. Central Command reports. The Pentagon has estimated that these attacks have temporarily diverted up to $40 billion in trade away from the Suez route to longer Cape of Good Hope journeys.
The Bottom Line
Admiral Stavridis's warning highlights growing concern among defense experts about Iran's potential expansion of maritime threats beyond the Red Sea. The strategic importance of the Suez Canal, combined with existing Houthi capabilities, creates a scenario where Iranian-backed disruption could significantly impact global supply chains and energy markets.
What to watch: Any increase in Houthi attacks targeting vessels closer to the canal entrance, statements from Tehran regarding freedom of navigation in international waters, and potential adjustments to U.S. or allied naval deployments in the Mediterranean and Red Sea regions. The situation remains fluid, and independent verification of Iranian intentions has been limited.