Iran Blocks Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating US-Israeli Conflict

Iran has shut down the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil trade, significantly escalating tensions amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict. Tehran declared the closure in response to Washington's continued blockade of Iranian ports, creating serious disruptions for international shipping and energy markets. This marks a striking escalation in the standoff, as the strait handles nearly a fifth of the world's crude oil shipments daily—a choke point with immense geopolitical w