The Strait of Hormuz has become the most dangerous flashpoint in the escalating Iran–U.S. confrontation. Tehran now warns that the vital oil route will not reopen and that American ships have no right to enter the Persian Gulf. The threat comes after massive U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island and Donald Trump’s call for global navies to deploy warships to force the waterway open. Washington says it will protect shipping at any cost, while Iran vows retaliation against energy assets linked to the United States. With nearly 20% of the world’s oil flowing through Hormuz, the standoff could shake global markets.