Trump Vows US Will 'Run' Strait of Hormuz as Iran Declares Closure Amid Escalating Conflict
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The critical Strait of Hormuz is again a flashpoint, with US President Donald Trump declaring the US will 'run' and 'guard' the vital waterway, even demanding reimbursement for its efforts. This stark assertion comes just hours after Iran Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) publicly announced the strait's closure due to alleged 'hostile actions' by US forces, effectively plunging a precarious interim ceasefire into collapse and sending oil prices soaring. The latest escalation saw Iran launch a new wave of attacks on US military facilities across Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, and Oman, claiming retaliation for significant US military strikes targeting Iranian missile and drone sites over the weekend. This cycle of tit-for-tat aggression has effectively shattered a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed just last month, with both Washington and Tehran blaming each other for violating its terms. Iran views control of the Strait as a strategic imperative, attempting to force commercial vessels to use its designated routes and potentially pay transit fees, a demand flatly rejected by the US and its allies. As global oil benchmarks surge nearly 5% today, nearing $80 a barrel, the immediate future points to continued military posturing and a high-stakes standoff. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) maintains the Strait is open, with a coalition of 22 nations working to ensure freedom of navigation, while the UK moves to ban Iran IRGC as a terrorist organization. Observers are keenly watching for further military engagements and any potential diplomatic backchannels, which appear increasingly unlikely amidst the current maximalist positions. The global economy now braces for prolonged energy supply disruptions and heightened geopolitical instability.