Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:46am on 16 Mar 2026,Monday International
Donald Trump has urged NATO allies and China to help reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, after Iran effectively blocked the vital oil route amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel. The closure of the waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude supply passes, has triggered sharp disruptions in global energy markets. Major economies have begun releasing strategic oil reserves to stabilise supply and curb rising fuel costs. Meanwhile, global crude prices have surged by nearly 40–50 per cent as Iran targets shipping and energy infrastructure across the Gulf in retaliation for recent military strikes. (PC: X)
