Hormuz Strait Closure Forcing Trump, Importers to Seek Solution

The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz — entering its fourth week as conflict in the region deepens — is piling pressure on the US administration and on major importers of oil, gas and fuels from the Persian Gulf, prompting them to scramble for solutions. President Donald Trump on Saturday issued a 48-hour ultimatum for traffic to resume and threatened to strike Iran’s power plants. The comments mark a dramatic escalation and reflect growing frustration in the White House with the struggle to restore traffic through the narrow waterway and to damp rising oil prices.