Trump Is Charting a New Course on Iran

Iran and the US are engaged in a escalating conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil shipments. On Sunday, Iran claimed it struck an unmanned US Navy vessel that was trying to enter the strait, but the US military denied this, calling it a "total lie". This incident came after the US military said it had struck three Iranian oil tankers in response to missile attacks on two US Navy warships.

The conflict began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, but since a ceasefire agreement was announced in June, fighting has persisted. The US has adopted a dual-pronged approach, responding militarily to attacks on the strait while also going after foreign financial institutions that handle Iranian money.

Iran's security chief, Mohsen Rezaei, announced that his country would establish a restricted zone outside the Strait of Hormuz, with ships entering the area being placed on a sanctions list. The US has also taken steps to counter Iran's actions, redirecting 92 commercial vessels, disabling three, and boarding two others to ensure compliance with its blockade.

Former US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta predicted that the conflict would continue for another six months, saying it was a "forever war in the Middle East" that the US risked becoming mired in. Meanwhile, a report from The Straits Times noted that Iran's leverage in the strait may be waning due to an unprecedented economic squeeze by the US, which has cut state revenues and disrupted shipping.

The conflict has resulted in at least five people killed earlier in the week during a US bombardment of southern Iran. The US naval blockade against Iranian ports remains in place, while Tehran continues to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, considered the world's most critical oil chokepoint.