Houthis Disrupt Oil Flows, Escalating Middle East War

The Middle East war escalates as the Iran-aligned Houthis step up attacks on Saudi-backed government in Yemen, disrupting oil flows from the world's largest crude exporter. The US has shifted to tightening economic pressure through secondary sanctions on foreign companies that do business with Iranian firms.

Iranian airlines have been barred from neighboring countries including the UAE, Oman, and Iraq in response to new US sanctions. This marks the first major impact of the move, which could deepen Iran's isolation and worsen an economic crisis already aggravated by a US blockade of its seaports.

Mohammad Mokhber, an adviser to Iran's supreme leader, accused regional countries of 'alignment with America' for blocking flights. He warned that if Iran does not have the possibility to fly and receive airport services, then no country in the region will have this possibility either.