Strait of Tension: Escalation in the Middle East, Brewed in a Cauldron of Conflict The latest skirmishes between the United States and Iran have spilled over into the critical waters of the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world's oil passes through.
Oil prices have soared above $90 a barrel, reflecting the precarious situation.
President Trump's familiar refrain of "we're going to hit them hard" has become predictable, but what lies beneath this rhetoric is a complex web of competing interests and outdated military strategies.