US blockade tests Iranian chokehold on Strait of Hormuz energy lifeline

Tensions soared in the Gulf as a U.S.-imposed blockade aimed at cutting off Iranian maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz entered its first full day. At least three vessels, including two tankers sanctioned by the United States, successfully transited the strategic waterway despite the heightened restrictions, field data confirmed. The situation underscores the fragile dynamics surrounding one of the world's most critical energy corridors, where nearly 20% of global oil exports pass dail