Hormuz 2.0: Iran's trump card if Trump invades Kharg Island
India Today
The escalating tension in the Middle East has put another vital chokepoint in the spotlight: the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, also known as the 'Gate of Tears'. Iran has now threatened to block the Strait, which carries 12% of global crude oil shipments, if Kharg Island is attacked by the US.
With Donald Trump's five-day deadline for peace talks ending on Friday, and amid rising speculation of a US ground invasion in Iran's Kharg Island, Tehran has threatened to open a new front in the war by blocking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed, Iran has now shifted its focus to the Bab el-Mandeb, the gateway to the Red Sea, which carries 12% of global crude oil shipments. If this strait is also disrupted, the global energy market will face another major hit.
Iran is well aware that its chokehold on Hormuz, through which 20% of the global energy passes, gives it significant leverage in the war. Trump knows he can't end the war until he breaks that chokehold. While Trump has signalled a willingness to de-escalate the conflict, plans are afoot to put boots on the ground to occupy Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen Hormuz. Source (X/Javier Blas)
It is no secret that Kharg, Iran's 'Crown Jewel', is its economic lifeline and handles 90% of the country's crude exports. It is the reason Iran has now played the Bab el-Mandeb card and has threatened to disrupt shipping in the 20-mile-wide strait.
"If the enemy wants to take action on land in the Iranian islands or anywhere else in our lands or to inflict costs on Iran... we will open other fronts for them as a surprise so that their action will not only be of no benefit to them but will also double their costs," an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) official told state media.
But blocking Bab el-Mandeb, which means 'Gate of Tears' or 'Gate of Grief' in Arabic, won't be so straightforward for Iran. Unlike Hormuz, Iran does not border the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. It is located 1,200 miles off Hormuz.
The strait is located southwest of Yemen, and is sandwiched between Djibouti. It connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea, forming a crucial corridor for ships and oil tankers heading to the Suez Canal.
A heartwarming video of the moment where the woman got the proposal of her dreams from her boyfriend has now delighted the internet.
The video briefings are fuelling concerns that Trump "may not be receiving -- or absorbing -- the complete picture of the war," NBC News quoted two current officials and one former official as saying.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy says that all vessels must coordinate with Iran's maritime authorities before entering the waterway. According to Iranian officials, this requirement has become stricter in recent weeks as security concerns grow in the region.
Pakistan, a country struggling to contain violence within and around its own borders, now wants to broker peace between the US and Iran. The contradiction is glaring.
According to the passenger, the auto driver was not just occasionally glancing at his phone, but "locked in," continuously watching short videos while driving.
Legal immigration to the US in 2025 has seen one of its sharpest declines since the pandemic. About 2,50,000 fewer visas in total were issued compared to 2024, reported The Washington Post. The drop has been global, but India stands out as one of the worst affected, alongside China. Visa approvals for the two countries fell by a combined 84,000.
Shradha Saini from Bengaluru has gone viral after sharing a detailed breakdown of her monthly expenses, calling it her "Gen Z lifestyle".
As reports suggest Saudi Arabia is pushing for a tougher stance on Iran, Trump's public praise of Gulf allies reveals shifting dynamics, and raises questions over how far the conflict could escalate.
Yogesh Yadav, climbed nearly 40 feet up the tower on Tuesday morning and refused to come down for several hours. He was later taken into custody.
Snubs, sarcasm and shifting power play - Iran's choice of JD Vance over Trump's trusted aides reveals a deeper mistrust, raising questions over who really controls the path to ending the war.
The video, originally shared on Rakesh Kumar's Facebook profile, shows him dragging a snake-like object tied to a rope across a platform that triggered fear and confusion among passengers present at the station.
From shutting US bases to controlling a key global oil route, Iran's demands in response to Trump's proposal set a steep stage for talks, but hints of flexibility quietly emerge behind the scenes.