US-Iran standoff in Strait of Hormuz escalates

US-Iran standoff in Strait of Hormuz escalates

Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz, as US peace talks remained distant. Just one ship passed through the waterway Tuesday; on Wednesday, more ships tried, and Iran attacked two and reportedly seized two more. The White House played down the episode, but it demonstrated Tehran’s continuing stranglehold, The New York Times reported. Progress toward reopening the passage remains stalled: Iran’s parliament speaker said the US blockade w…