Strait of Hormuz coverage

Middle East diplomacy

U.S.-Iran diplomacy stalls after Trump cancels Islamabad envoy trip

Witkoff and Kushner had been expected in Pakistan for talks, but Trump said negotiations can happen by phone as Iran’s foreign minister continued a regional tour

Strait of Hormuz

Seized ships sharpen risks for crews in Strait of Hormuz

Two MSC-managed container ships have been taken toward Bandar Abbas after Iranian forces seized them, leaving shipping companies to weigh crew safety amid a widening maritime confrontation

IEA outlook

IEA: Iran war to keep global gas markets tight through 2027 after Qatar LNG hit

Damage at Qatar’s Ras Laffan and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz will delay LNG supply growth by at least two years, the agency says

IMF sees deep contraction as blockade bites

IMF projects Iran’s economy will shrink 6.1% in 2026 as inflation soars and rial slides

War damage, a near-shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and tightening sanctions have cut Iran off from trade, pushing prices higher and the currency to about 1.32 million rials per U.S. dollar, according to IMF and analyst estimates

Gulf crisis and markets

Europe eyes Hormuz role but remains sidelined as Strait swings shut again and markets wobble

A British-French security plan would give Europe a stake, but decisions by Tehran and Washington continue to drive events while investors whipsaw ahead of a cease-fire deadline

U.S.–Iran diplomacy

Vance’s Pakistan trip on hold as Iran balks at talks; Trump extends ceasefire

The vice president remains in Washington for White House meetings as Tehran criticizes the U.S. port blockade and withholds commitment to attend Islamabad talks