Hormuz Strait blockade enters third month as U.S.-Iran tensions intensify

ME News said May 1 (UTC+8) marked the start of the third month of the Strait of Hormuz blockade, with tensions between the United States and Iran continuing to rise. Reuters, citing senior officials in Iran's Revolutionary Guard, reported that any new U.S. strike on Iran—even a limited one—would be met with a "long and painful strike" targeting U.S. regional bases and naval vessels. The report added that U.S. President Trump is due to be briefed Thursday local time on new military strike options against Iran. Axios separately reported that some U.S. proposals include deploying ground forces to seize control of parts of the Strait of Hormuz to restore commercial shipping. The blockade remains in place, disrupting roughly 20% of global oil and gas supplies and pushing international energy prices higher. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei said Tehran would maintain "absolute control" over the strait and warned foreign powers they "will only end up at the bottom of the sea." The United States is also seeking to assemble an international coalition under the "Maritime Freedom Architecture" to secure navigation through the strait after the conflict ends. France and the United Kingdom have indicated they would consider participating in related operations only after a ceasefire. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz would materially slow global growth and could fuel sharper inflation and food crises. (Source: BlockBeats)