Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz; Hunger Crisis Worsens

Tehran announced Sunday it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, escalating a cycle of threats and strikes between the US and Iran. The move deepens a humanitarian crisis that is already pushing millions into hunger. The World Food Programme reports it is feeding 1.5 million fewer people this year due to the conflict. Vulnerable nations are hit hardest: an extra 2.5 million people in Somalia and 2.3 million in Afghanistan now struggle to meet basic food needs. Even if tensions ease, the damage will not be fixed quickly. The strait is a key route for global fertilizer exports. As prices soared, many farmers reduced fertilizer use, threatening future food production. Remittances from migrant workers in the Gulf have also dried up, hurting countries in Asia and Africa. The US and Iran, with Israel urging Washington on, are locked in a dangerous spiral. Both sides seek an exit from war through escalation, but the consequences are already severe.