US blockades Iranian ports

The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has entered its second day, effectively transforming the military campaign against Iran into a high-stakes test of economic endurance.

While President Donald Trump maintains that Tehran is eager for a deal, the blockade has already triggered a historic oil supply shock and sent global energy prices soaring.

International law experts are questioning the legality of the maneuver, which aims to prevent roughly two million barrels of oil a day from reaching global markets.

Meanwhile, China has openly defied the restrictions, with at least one sanctioned tanker successfully transiting the waterway unchallenged.