India, March 26 -- Growing tensions in West Asia have pushed global maritime security back into the spotlight, with warnings that key sea routes could face new threats if conflict spreads further. Military signals from Iran suggest that the conflict may not remain limited to land or air, raising fears that critical waterways used for international trade could soon become contested zones.

According to reports cited by Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, military sources warned that Iran could open a new front in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait if its territory or islands come under attack. The warning has triggered fresh concerns about the safety of one of the busiest maritime routes linking Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

The developme...