US strikes Iran for first time in over a month

# Why This Matters The resumption of direct military strikes signals a dangerous escalation in the US-Iran confrontation at one of the world's most strategically vital chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-third of global maritime petroleum trade, meaning Iranian threats to deploy sea mines there translate directly into potential disruptions to oil supplies and shipping costs affecting economies worldwide. By coupling military action with economic sanctions, the US is pursuing a dual-pressure strategy aimed at forcing Iranian compliance, but this approach carries significant risk: each military strike creates incentive for Iranian retaliation, potentially triggering a cycle of tit-for-tat attacks that could spiral into a broader regional conflict. The month-long pause suggests both sides have operated under implicit restraint boundaries, but those boundaries appear to be narrowing, making the space for miscalculation or accidental escalation dangerously thin.