Anonymousabout 3 hours ago
Iran announced a second closure of the Strait of Hormuz on April 18, 2026, hours after the US refused to lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports, triggering new attacks on commercial shipping including gunfire at Indian-flagged tankers. The dueling blockades have cut ship traffic through the world's most critical oil chokepoint by over 95%, sending WTI crude above $100 per barrel — up 62.5% year-over-year — and raising the prospect of a sustained global energy crisis with recession-level GDP impacts if the standoff persists through summer.