Op-ed

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U. S. Navy would begin a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following unsuccessful talks with Iran, endangering a fragile two-week ceasefire. Trump stated that the Navy would take action against vessels in international waters that had paid Iran a …

Pakistan has spent the last year or so carefully building Washington’s confidence while maintaining a functional relationship with Tehran. Wasay Mir On April 7, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that a ceasefire between the United States and Iran had been reached. “Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom …

  James Holmes A prolonged crisis in Hormuz could drive the US Navy out from its longstanding base in Bahrain. Trouble would inevitably follow. This week’s ceasefire aside, the portents are grim for the US Navy’s long-term posture in the Middle East and beyond. Even if the Trump …

The U. S. and Iran did not reach an agreement to end their ongoing war after lengthy talks in Islamabad, which raised concerns about the ceasefire. Each side blamed the other for the failure of the 21-hour negotiations, which have resulted in numerous casualties and increased global oil …

Hadi Elis The Tamil people possess one of the world’s oldest continuous cultural and civilizational identities. Historian Michael Wood once described the Tamils as “the last surviving classical civilization on Earth,” noting their remarkable ability to preserve ancient traditions, language, and literature despite centuries of external pressures. Their …

The war in the Middle East is driving major disruptions in global energy markets and risks worsening food insecurity, particularly in low-income, import-dependent countries, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank Group (WBG), and the World Food Program (WFP) warned Wednesday. In a joint statement, the institutions …

After 40 days of sustained military confrontation that pushed the region to the brink of a broader Middle Eastern war—and threatened a global energy shock—the United States and Iran announced, on April 8, 2026, a ceasefire agreement mediated by Pakistan. The deal includes a two-week suspension of hostilities …

Amelie Shawn Some ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz after the ceasefire. April 8, 2026 (Shadi Al-Asaar/Anadolu) The Strait of Hormuz will remain the world’s central energy artery and the essential outlet for global oil and gas exports. It is a critical maritime chokepoint through which more …

A Ceasefire Built on Shifting Ground It is impossible to assert with confidence that the temporary ceasefire between Washington and Tehran will hold in the coming period, or that Israel’s claimed adherence to it will remain intact. The agreement itself is already contested in its interpretation, with conflicting …