What is the strait of Hormuz and can the US stop Iran from blocking it?

Energy prices have soared as Iranian strikes and reports of mines prevent ships from transiting the chokepoint Middle East crisis – live updates More than 1,000 cargo ships, mainly oil and gas tankers, have been blocked from transiting the strait of Hormuz by the Israeli-US war against Iran after Tehran closed the key maritime passage, with a potentially large global economic impact. Officials in the Trump administration have suggested an international naval taskforce to reopen the strait, but enthusiasm remains low from other countries to join it, with a number saying they had no plans to participate or offering only minimal assistance. Continue reading...