25-Day Countdown! The Blockade of the Strait of Hormuz Sparks an Energy War

The Strait of Hormuz. (Made by ChatGPT)

[People News] The situation in the Middle East is currently at a highly volatile crossroads, with the flames of conflict directly affecting the lifeblood of the global economy—the Strait of Hormuz.

This conflict escalated significantly in the early hours of March 18. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that the U.S. military deployed powerful strategic strike forces, utilising 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs to destroy Iranian coastal anti-ship missile sites that were targeting the shipping lanes of the strait. According to statistics from British maritime agencies, around 21 merchant vessels have been attacked to varying degrees since the conflict began, leading to a complete breakdown of maritime safety.

Iranian Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf issued a very strong statement, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz “will never return to its pre-war state,” and announced the implementation of a so-called “permitted navigation” regime. This means that this crucial passage, which carries significant global energy volumes daily, will now only allow vessels with interests in Iran, such as oil tankers bound for China, to transit.

The blockade has incited panic in global markets, with JPMorgan issuing an urgent warning that global oil storage capacity has officially entered a “25-day countdown.” If the stalemate persists, the global industrial supply chain will come to a complete halt. Currently, Brent crude oil prices have surged to a three-and-a-half-year high of $103.42 per barrel, with experts predicting that oil prices could soar to the $120 mark.

Simultaneously, the strategic deployment of the U.S. military is experiencing a significant shift. The advanced amphibious assault ship 'Dili Bolih,' which was originally stationed in Japan to deter tensions in the Taiwan Strait, has now been spotted in the Malacca Strait, racing towards the Middle East to support operations against Iran. Military experts predict that the U.S. military's objective may be to capture Hark Island, the lifeline of Iran's crude oil exports. This island, known as Iran's 'economic crown,' features deep-water docks and numerous oil storage tanks, but it is heavily fortified with air defence radars and underground tunnels, making the operation to seize the island a highly risky endeavour.

Additionally, Iranian President Pezeshki Zhi Yang confirmed on social media that Intelligence Minister Khatib has been attacked. Khatib is the second senior Iranian official to die, following the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Larijani.

In recent military operations, Iran's leadership has suffered unprecedented and devastating losses. Precision strikes from Israel and the U.S. have led to the departure of several key figures from the political arena. As these military and political leaders go offline, a significant power vacuum has emerged within the Iranian regime. Intelligence reports indicate that the internal communication system has been thoroughly compromised, leaving high-ranking officials unable to communicate effectively and forcing them to seek refuge in underground shelters for safety.
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