Iran flexes its power over Strait of Hormuz
Iran seized at least two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation for a U.S. naval blockade of its ports. The U.S. had turned back some 30 ships trying to enter or exit Iranian ports since the blockade was imposed earlier this month.
Tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated as Iran seized at least two cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The ships, one flying a Panamanian flag and the other a Liberian flag, were claimed to have tried to navigate the strait without Iranian approval. The U.S. had imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, turning back around 30 ships. In response, the U.S. boarded a tanker carrying Iranian oil and seized an Iranian-flagged container ship. The Iranian regime accused the U.S. of 'piracy'. A planned U.S. delegation to Pakistan for peace talks was delayed after Iran refused to participate, citing 'contradictory messages' and 'inconsistent behavior' from the Americans. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said gas prices might not drop below $3 until next year due to the standstill in the strait, which carried 20% of the world's oil before the war.
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