US Naval Blockade Strangles Iran's Oil Exports, Escalating Economic Pressure

At precisely 14:00 GMT on Monday, the United States imposed a naval blockade on Iran, bringing a dramatic escalation to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Tehran. This blockade targets Iranian ports and the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 20% of the world's oil flows in peacetime. Tehran has branded the move "piracy" and "an illegal act," but the implications could cut far deeper than rhetoric. For the past six weeks, Iran had been reaping unexpected gains from its oi