Iran vs Trump: Tense Standoff in the Strait of Hormuz
Both Iran and the US are claiming they’re shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran blaming the US for “breaches of trust” by imposing a military blockade in Iranian territorial waters, and the US is trying to blame Iran for alleged breaking the tenuous ceasefire. What about the Gulf sheikhdoms? Do these post-colonial British relic have a future in the region without US protection? Meanwhile in Washington, President Donald Trump still claims that ‘high level’ negotiations are still ongoing, and accusing Iran for ‘breaking the deal’—a deal which never really saw the light of day due to Trump’s own erratic Trump positions, and the fact that he keeps moving the goal posts during negotiations. Is the US even capable of abiding by any agreement? Under the current regime in Washington, that remains an open question. On closer inspection though, it does appear that piracy is the new US grand strategy now.
Dialogue Works host Nima Alkhorshid talks to editor of 21st Century Wire Patrick Henningsen. Watch:
NOTE: This interview was recorded on Saturday April 18, 2026.
Thanks Patrick and Nima at Dialogue Works, good to see you both discussing this and the fantastic analysis by Richard Medhurst on what's truly going on regarding energy resources.
Keep up the great work both of you, we need this coverage to get the truth out, thanks.
Terrific analysis as always thank you Patrick and Nima. Events in the Strait of Hormuz are moving fast. I'm trying to keep up with the hokey cokey of open or closed, blocked or not. Or perhaps it should be musical chairs if we add in the shipping vessels trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, actually Iranian territorial waters.
I don't think Pete Hegseth or President Trump looked too closely at the map, as even a simpleton at geography could have probably established the close proximity of the Straits to the Iranian coast.
I wouldn't hold out much hope for a European leaders intervention to force any changes either.
In the UK Prime Minister Starmer has his hands full with two domestic issues.
The first being his on going claim of not knowing that Peter Mandleson was a close personal friend of Epstein before appointing his British Ambassador to the United States. Even though he did know that Mandleson had been sacked from two previous government positions.
It was Starmer's personal choice, oddly similar to Trump's personal choice of Del boy and Rodney as diplomats to Iran. Two more eminently unsuitable characters.
The second is the upcoming trial at the end of this month, of three Ukrainian rent boys accused of the Arson attack on two separate homes and two cars belonging to the British Prime Minister. Quite why both the front door and the back door of Sir Keir Starmer's homes were covered in flames will have to be closely examined in detail in the court.
No doubt the three rent boys were aggrieved by something related to Sir Keir, the cross examination and verdict will make for interesting reading.
As the Chinese say. May you live in Interesting Times!