Here's why:

* Plate Tectonics: The Red Sea is located along a divergent plate boundary where the African and Arabian plates are pulling apart. This process is called rifting.

* Seafloor Spreading: As the plates move apart, magma rises from the Earth's mantle and creates new oceanic crust, pushing the existing seafloor away from the rift. This process is known as seafloor spreading.

* Evidence: The Red Sea has several features that support the theory of a recent rift valley formation, including:

* Young Seafloor: The seafloor in the Red Sea is relatively young compared to other ocean basins.

* Volcanic Activity: There are active volcanoes and geothermal vents along the rift valley.

* Elevated Topography: The Red Sea is a relatively shallow basin surrounded by high mountains, a typical feature of rift valleys.

* Earthquakes: Frequent earthquakes occur along the rift zone, indicating ongoing tectonic activity.

The Red Sea is still actively forming and widening, and it is estimated that in millions of years, it could become a new ocean basin.