The United States is asking allied nations to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, two months after US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a war that shut down the waterway. The closure has cut off roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies, sending crude prices sharply higher. The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow channel between Iran and Oman through which a fifth of the world's energy moves by ship. Its closure is one of the most disruptive supply shocks the energy market has faced in decades. With the waterway still blocked, Washington is now reaching out internationally, suggesting it cannot reopen the passage alone. The appeal for allied help points to a prolonged standoff rather than a quick resolution. Energy markets will be watching for any sign of a diplomatic or military path to reopening the strait, while oil-importing economies face sustained price pressure until supply routes are restored.
Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 1,430 with the US Geological Survey warning fatalities could top 10,000, placing it among Latin America's deadliest in a century. US military planes are landing in Caracas, Washington is mobilising $150 million in aid, and rescue teams from 17 countries are on the ground.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
