US in Panic! Strait of Hormuz Causes Headaches, Trump Busy Forming New Coalition
The United States’ push to form an international coalition to reopen shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz marks a new escalation in the conflict that shows no signs of abating, while global oil prices have surged sharply and are pressuring the world economy.
According to diplomatic cables from the US State Department seen by Reuters, Washington is now actively inviting other countries to join a collective effort to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. This vital sea route remains closed two months after the war triggered by the US-Israel joint attack on Iran.
The closure of the strait has disrupted around 20% of the world’s oil and gas supplies, sparking a surge in global energy prices and raising concerns about a potential global economic slowdown.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have so far hit a dead end. The US is attempting to break the impasse through a naval blockade of Iran’s oil exports, which form the backbone of Tehran’s economy.
According to an Axios report, amid stalled talks, US President Donald Trump is scheduled to receive a briefing on Thursday (30/4/2026) regarding plans for a series of new military strikes against Iran, in the hope of forcing Tehran back to the negotiating table.
This escalation prospect has immediately impacted energy markets. Brent crude prices briefly broke through US$125 per barrel, the highest level in more than four years, partly driven by technical factors ahead of contract expiries.
Since the start of the year, Brent prices have more than doubled, reaching the highest point since March 2022, which has fuelled inflation and raised fuel prices in various countries.
Iran, for its part, insists it will continue to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz as long as it remains under threat. This stance opens the potential for further energy supply disruptions from the Middle East region, amid a conflict that has already killed thousands of people.
Tehran has even warned of taking “unprecedented military action” if the US blockade of ships linked to Iran continues.
On the other hand, Trump has reaffirmed Washington’s position on the nuclear issue.
“They don’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal. They had better start thinking smart soon!” he wrote on social media, without elaborating further on the form of the deal in question. The post was accompanied by an image of himself wearing sunglasses and holding a machine gun, captioned “No more Mr. Nice Guy.”
The mutual threats between Washington and Tehran are playing out in public spaces, while behind the scenes, Pakistan is attempting to dampen the escalation by facilitating the exchange of messages between the two parties regarding the possibility of a deal.
A White House official stated that Trump has also discussed matters with oil industry executives. In that meeting, government measures to stabilise the global oil market were discussed, including options to maintain the blockade for months if necessary, while minimising its impact on American consumers.