The United States bombed Iran’s three main nuclear sites in a major escalation of this month’s conflict in the Middle East. Tehran said it will reserve all options to defend itself. This US move has stoked speculation that Iran’s leadership may reach for another way to pressure its enemies to relent - blocking or effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz to shipping. This narrow waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf handles about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade. So if Iran were able to deny access to the giant tankers that ferry oil and gas to China, Europe and other major energy consuming regions, it ... (full story)