Hormuz

A prolonged US blockade of one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints threatens to send fresh shocks through energy markets and supply chains, raising new risks and costs for economies far beyond the Gulf. By Sanjoy Paul, University of Technology Sydney For weeks, the global economy has been fixated on a single question: when will the Strait of Hormuz fully reopen? Following Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, Tehran has in effect shut the narrow passage, a route that normally carries about one-fifth of…

Iran warns of 'firm response' to military transit through Strait of Hormuz TEHRAN - Iran said any military vessel attempting to move through the Strait of Hormuz would meet a "firm and decisive response," in a statement issued by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy. The IRGC said it exercises "full and intelligent control" over the strategic waterway, adding that passage is allowed only for non-military ships and only under defined regulations. It also rejected reports that US vessels had crossed the strait,…

As strains inside NATO deepen over the Iran war, alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte has told several capitals that US President Donald Trump is seeking firm commitments within days to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to two European diplomats who spoke to Reuters. Mr Rutte held talks with Mr Trump in Washington on Wednesday as unease spread across the alliance over the conflict with Iran. "We note the frustration in Washington, but they did not consult allies either before or after starting this war," said one…

Shipping companies are holding back from returning to the Strait of Hormuz, saying they need firmer assurances on the terms of the US-Iran ceasefire after Tehran said the vital waterway remains off-limits to vessels sailing without a permit. The six-week war all but choked off traffic through the strait, a narrow corridor that handles about 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments, sending energy prices sharply upward around the world. Iran said it would provide safe passage in coordination with its armed…

More than five weeks into a war that has killed thousands, rattled economies and driven up oil prices, fresh aerial strikes were reported in Tehran as the conflict between the US, Israel and Iran showed no sign of easing. US President Donald Trump warned Iran he would unleash "hell" if it failed to reach a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has in effect shut the Hormuz waterway — a passage for about a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supply — while also striking US military bases and other targets across…

A second Turkish-flagged ship has crossed the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, Turkey’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Saturday. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a key global waterway, since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran started on February 28 set off the Middle East conflict and sent global oil and gas prices soaring. Uraloglu said that on February 28 there were 15 ships belonging to Turkish shipowners waiting to go through the strategic strait. “Two of these 15 made the crossing,” he told the private…

Wednesday April 1, 2026 Britain says it will bring dozens of countries together for urgent talks on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, after the US-Israeli war on Iran effectively shut down one of the world’s most important shipping lanes, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Wednesday. At a news conference, Starmer said Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper would chair a virtual meeting on Thursday involving 35 countries. The aim, he said, is to examine steps that could be taken to restore the strait “after the fighting has…

A stark new warning from Washington has raised the stakes in the Middle East conflict, with US President Donald Trump saying the United States would destroy Iran's energy plants and oil wells unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz. The threat came after Iran dismissed US peace proposals as "unrealistic" and launched fresh waves of missiles at Israel. The Israeli military said two drones launched from Yemen were intercepted today, while Lebanon's Hezbollah also fired rockets into Israel. Israel, meanwhile, said it struck…

Pakistan’s foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said Iran has agreed to let 20 Pakistani-flagged vessels pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a move Islamabad quickly framed as a significant breakthrough in one of the gravest energy crises in recent memory.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio argued Friday that it would benefit every G7 member to press for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route currently blocked by Iran. Rubio made the case as he prepared to fly to France for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers scheduled outside Paris, saying bluntly that assisting in any effort to restore access “is in their interest.” The trip marks Rubio’s first return to international travel since the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on February 28.…