US-Iran Ceasefire Expires; Tehran Threatens Strait of Hormuz

A 60-day US-Iran ceasefire expired August 18 with no diplomatic or military off-ramp in sight. Washington refused to extend it. Tehran now threatens action in the Strait of Hormuz — a narrow waterway carrying roughly a fifth of global oil consumption — if diplomacy fails. The conflict began in late February, when the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran.