Since the outbreak of conflict between the United States and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to international shipping. At first, the closure was imposed by Iran through strikes on ships and mines laid across the strait. Soon after, the US declared a maritime blockade to counter Iran’s moves, blocking all movement of Iranian vessels and goods. This later turned into a widescale embargo on all Iranian-linked goods crossing the Indian Ocean.
The maritime chokepoints that could be worse than Hormuz
From Taiwan to Panama, here is how threats to four shipping hotspots could add to global economic disruption, warns Nitya Labh.
The World Today
Published 15 June 2026 — 5 minute READ
Image — Ships at anchor off Oman’s northern port of Khasab in May 2026 after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: AFP via Getty Images.
