Hormuz at the Brink: A Prolonged US-Iran Standoff Reshapes Energy Security

A June pause in the US‑Iran‑Israel conflict has given way to renewed tension centered on the Strait of Hormuz, with Oman-brokered talks aiming to establish a temporary 60‑day transit route but sovereignty and security disputes threaten a multi‑month deadlock. The US maintains a hardline stance while issuing mixed signals on sanctions, leaving global oil and LNG flows vulnerable and energy markets volatile as regional nonstate actors and broader geopolitical dynamics complicate any resolution ahead of US elections.