Strait of Hormuz

Pakistan Army Chief Arrives in Iran for Mediation, US Secretary of State Says 'Small Progress'

Pakistan's Army Chief, General Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Friday for mediation efforts to end the war between Israel and the US with Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said talks have made 'small progress,' and the EU is moving toward imposing sanctions on Iran for blocking the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan remains the main mediator, with the current focus on ending the war rather than nuclear program details.

May 22, 2026

35 more vessels pass through Strait of Hormuz under coordinated operations

35 more vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz under coordinated security operations. The ships included oil tankers, cargo vessels and military craft, with no incidents reported. The strategic waterway handles about 20% of global oil traffic.

May 22, 2026

Idemitsu Kosan tanker transits Hormuz, expected in Japan on Monday

A tanker operated by a subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan Co. has passed through the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to dock in Japan on Monday, according to METI. The successful transit is a positive sign for Japan's energy supply, which is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern crude oil.

May 22, 2026

31 vessels permitted to transit Strait of Hormuz in past 24 hours

In the past 24 hours, 31 vessels have been granted permission to transit the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway, a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments, remains active under tight security despite regional geopolitical strains.

Pakistan steps up mediation between US and Iran

Pakistan is intensifying its role as mediator between the US and Iran, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi making a second visit to Tehran in under a week. Talks remain deadlocked over Iran's enriched uranium stockpile and restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Strait of Hormuz Economic Calculus: Is Paying Iran's Transit Fees Cheaper Than a Blockade?

Eleven weeks into the Iran–US conflict, the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control, causing severe global economic damage. While Western nations condemn Iran's transit fees of up to $2 million per vessel, experts calculate those payments may be cheaper than the costs of stranded ships. The situation has shifted from open war to economic warfare, with complex legal and regional challenges complicating a diplomatic resolution.

Iran reviews latest U.S. response as tensions escalate at Hormuz

Iran confirms it is reviewing the latest U.S. response to a Pakistan-brokered proposal to end the war, while expanding control over the Strait of Hormuz. International criticism mounts after Israel detains activists from a Gaza aid flotilla.

Iran says it coordinated 26 vessels through Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours

Iran's IRGC said it coordinated 26 vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in 24 hours amid a US-Iran blockade standoff. The FAO warned the dispute could trigger a global food crisis. Trump cited 'progress' in talks but threatened military action if no deal is reached.

May 20, 2026

Chinese supertankers leave Strait of Hormuz as Trump says Iran talks near deal

Two Chinese supertankers have left the Strait of Hormuz after waiting more than two months, as US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance signaled a deal to end the war with Iran is close. The ships carried about 4 million barrels of crude oil. Oil prices eased slightly on the news, but analysts warn supply may not return to pre-war levels immediately.

May 20, 2026

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Economy

UN Lowers Global Economic Growth Forecasts Over Middle East Crisis

The United Nations has cut its global GDP growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027, citing energy price shocks from the Strait of Hormuz closure and financial instability linked to the Middle East conflict. Developing nations and West Asia are hardest hit, while U.S. and China forecasts remain unchanged.

May 20, 2026

UK warns Iran's Hormuz blockade could trigger global food crisis

The UK has warned that any Iranian attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz could spark a global food crisis, severely disrupting energy and food supply chains. The warning comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

How the Hormuz crisis could trigger a global food emergency

The crisis at the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil and cargo shipping routes, threatens to spike global food prices and trigger a food security emergency. Disruptions there impact not only energy supplies but also fertilizer and grain supply chains, severely endangering import-dependent nations.

Qatar: No Country Can Block Strait of Hormuz Under Any Circumstances

Qatar has declared that no country is permitted to obstruct access to the Strait of Hormuz under any circumstances. The statement comes as geopolitical tensions escalate in the Gulf region.

Food inflation squeezes Iranian households as war, Hormuz blockade hit economy

Rising food costs are squeezing Iranian households as war and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz place severe pressure on an already struggling economy.

UN Security Council weighs emergency meeting as support for Hormuz resolution grows

The UN Security Council is considering an emergency meeting as support for a resolution on the Strait of Hormuz grows, amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region.

Iran Holds Advantage at Hormuz as US Military Options Limited

Iran maintains strategic leverage at the Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil passes, while the US and allies face military constraints. Analysts say deploying forces there risks escalation and disrupting world energy supplies, highlighting Washington's strategic impasse as diplomacy yields little progress.

Pakistan faces limits as mediator as US-Iran tensions escalate

Pakistan is racing to maintain diplomatic channels between the US and Iran as tensions escalate, with both sides exchanging proposals but remaining deeply divided over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz. Despite Pakistan's mediation efforts, the risk of renewed military conflict is growing, with analysts warning of a dangerous escalation cycle.

Iran sends reply to US war-ending proposal via Pakistan mediator

Iran has formally responded to a US proposal to end the war, relaying its message through Pakistan as a mediator. Tehran demands unfrozen assets, lifted sanctions, and continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, while the US insists on nuclear concessions.

Iran Proposes Maritime Insurance for Hormuz Strait Passage, Payable in Bitcoin

Iran has proposed maritime insurance for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with payments in Bitcoin, as part of an effort to legitimize its control over the key waterway. The move, which could generate billions annually, faces strong international opposition and major legal, financial, and operational obstacles due to sanctions and trust issues.

Trump and Xi Jinping Reaffirm Joint Goal of Denuclearizing North Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reaffirmed their shared objective of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula during a two-day summit in Beijing, while also opposing the imposition of transit fees through the Strait of Hormuz. The joint statement reflects ongoing diplomatic efforts amid strained bilateral ties and Middle East tensions.

Tehran Considers Tolls on Vessels Crossing Strait of Hormuz

Iran is considering imposing fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could raise global oil prices and escalate geopolitical tensions with the West, as a response to U.S. sanctions and to strengthen Tehran's negotiating position.

Iran seeks to legalize control over Strait of Hormuz as nations vie for passage

Iran is seeking to legalize its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway handling 20% of global oil. The move risks escalating regional tensions and affecting international energy security. Major maritime powers such as the U.S., China, and India are expected to strongly oppose.

Day 79 of Iran War: Tehran Set to Announce Hormuz Toll Plan; Israel Strikes Lebanon

Iran says it will soon unveil a traffic-management plan for the Strait of Hormuz that includes toll fees, while US President Donald Trump warned Tehran faces a ‘very bad time’ unless it agrees to a peace deal soon. Israeli forces continued their bombardment of southern Lebanon on May 5, and a soldier was killed in the fighting. Pakistan’s interior minister traveled to Tehran to mediate stalled peace talks between Iran and the United States.

Hormuz Strait Tensions Escalate Amid US-Iran Dispute

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran at the strategic Hormuz Strait have sharply escalated, threatening maritime security and global energy supplies. This waterway handles about 20% of the world's oil traffic. The international community urges restraint and dialogue.