Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz Again, 1.5 Million Lose Food Aid as Hunger Crisis Worsens
Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, escalating a dangerous standoff with the United States that is deepening a global hunger crisis and pushing millions into starvation [195031].
Iran’s leaders are betting that further military escalation will pressure the United States into offering security guarantees and economic relief, hoping to force Washington to negotiate on favorable terms [198369]. The regime has increased military patrols and threatened to disrupt shipping through the narrow waterway, through which about 20% of the world’s oil passes [194730]. Tehran’s strategy relies on the assumption that the United States, despite its military superiority, will avoid a direct confrontation that could spike oil prices and hurt the global economy [194730].
The consequences are already severe. The World Food Programme reports it is feeding 1.5 million fewer people this year due to the conflict [195031]. An extra 2.5 million people in Somalia and 2.3 million in Afghanistan now struggle to meet basic food needs [195031]. Even if tensions ease, the damage will not be fixed quickly. The strait is a key route for global fertilizer exports, and as prices soared, many farmers reduced fertilizer use, threatening future food production [195031]. Remittances from migrant workers in the Gulf have also dried up, hurting countries in Asia and Africa [195031].
The United States launched a new wave of attacks against Iran, with the goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz [193846]. On the fourth night of U.S. airstrikes, President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, saying, “We will knock out all power plants and bridges” if Tehran does not comply with Washington’s demands [198249]. Trump simultaneously praised Iran following the release of an imprisoned American citizen, though the White House has not confirmed whether the prisoner’s release and the military strikes are directly connected [198289].
Analysts warn the tactic is dangerous. Any miscalculation—a stray missile, a collision at sea—could trigger a wider war [194730]. The United States has only expensive and difficult ways to win a war against Iran, and the result could be that the Strait of Hormuz is no longer as open as it once was [198197].