Tensions surge in the Middle East as Vladimir Putin reacts strongly to the U.S. seizure of an Iranian vessel amid the escalating Strait of Hormuz crisis. Sergei Lavrov calls the blockade “unlawful,” warning of wider regional instability as talks between Washington and Tehran hang in the balance. With Donald Trump pushing for renewed negotiations and Iran accusing the U.S. of ceasefire violations, fears grow of a larger geopolitical confrontation involving Russia, Iran, and the United States. Will this crisis trigger a broader global flashpoint?