What happens when one of the world's most important energy chokepoints becomes a bargaining chip in a stalled peace process? Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen sharply, with only six vessels recorded crossing the waterway on Monday as hopes for a U.S.-Iran agreement fade. The disruption is again putting energy security, maritime trade and regional stability under pressure. Strait of Hormuz Shipping Falls to Six Vessels Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to levels far below normal as diplomatic effort…

Inside America’s Largest Middle East Military Buildup Since Iraq War

Washington expands military pressure across the Gulf region. The United States has launched its largest Middle East military buildup in decades, deploying multiple carrier strike groups, stealth fighters, missile defense systems, and naval forces as tensions with Iran reshape regional security calculations. The United States has initiated what defense analysts increasingly describe as the largest American military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq War, signaling a dramatic escalation in Washington’s regional deterrence posture aga…