Middle East Shipping ‘Paralyzed’ by Dueling U.S., Iranian Blockades, Analysts Say

U.S. and Iranian forces are both interdicting ships as the two countries grapple with control of the flow of maritime traffic through the region, leaving the shipping industry ‘paralyzed,’ experts say. In the past week, the U.S. interdicted three ships – two in the Indian Ocean and one in the Strait of Hormuz – while Iran went after three ships, seizing two. There are reports that the third ship was able to continue its journey. The U.S. and Iran also continue to trade barbs, over social media, about the effectiveness of their efforts to wrestle control of the Strait of