Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, stated that while Tehran supports the Houthi-led "resistance," Iran is only responsible for decisions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, not Yemen's Bab el-Mandeb Strait. He emphasized that the Houthis are not an Iranian military unit, and decisions concerning Yemeni territory are made by Yemenis themselves. Rezaei also noted that it should not be automatically assumed that Iran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz would be replicated in the same manner in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, as they are different straits with distinct political situations and participants. He explicitly stated that Iran and Yemen have not announced a joint decision to completely close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait to commercial shipping, and that the Houthis understand the strategic importance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait without needing Iranian instructions. He added that anyone planning a long-term regional war should understand that the stability of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is inextricably linked to the overall regional security situation.