The
standoff escalated after a 60-day negotiating window from a June memorandum
expired without agreement.
Iran's Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf tied the
closure—handling one-fifth of global oil traffic—to demands for sanctions
relief, asset releases, and halted U.S. operations.
Trump demanded Iran's surrender and warned of bombing Oman if it interferes, while Sen. Mark Kelly criticized the approach for creating more enemies.
Both sides signal readiness to escalate, threatening global energy supplies and wider conflict.