On the 45th day of the Iran-Israel war, the United States has escalated its involvement by enforcing a naval blockade on all Iranian ports, effective from 1400 GMT on Monday. This blockade targets maritime activity linked to Iran and is expected to significantly impact the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil route. In response, Iran has issued strong warnings of retaliation, framing the blockade as a provocation. President Donald Trump declared that the US Navy would intercept any vessel that pays a toll to Iran, marking a shift to direct economic pressure. The blockade has already caused oil prices to spike, with West Texas Intermediate reaching $104.50 per barrel. Concurrently, the conflict in Lebanon has intensified, with Israeli forces engaged with Hezbollah, despite calls for de-escalation from Lebanese leadership. The situation remains precarious, with ongoing clashes and a rising death toll in Lebanon, highlighting the risks of miscalculation as the conflict expands into economic warfare and proxy battles across the region.