Hormuz blockade hits global shipping

The strategic waterway, which handles a significant portion of the world's oil and gas exports, has become the primary leverage point for Tehran in its war with the West.

President Trump's shifting deadlines for reopening the strait have kept markets on edge, while Iranian officials maintain they will not back down until their demands are met.

The blockade has forced a permanent rewiring of global energy security, with nations like India and China seeking to reduce their dependence on Middle Eastern supplies.

The long-term economic fallout is expected to be damaging, even if a ceasefire is reached in the coming days.