Hormuz Blockade Enters Third Month: US Plans New Military Action, Iran Warns of 'Long and Painful Strikes'

As of May 1, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has entered its third month, with tensions between the United States and Iran continuing to escalate. According to Reuters, a senior official from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard stated that if the US launches any new attacks on Iran, even if limited in scale, it will face ‘long and painful strikes’ targeting US military bases and ships in the region. Reports indicate that US President Trump will receive a briefing on new military strike options against Iran on Thursday local time. Axios also revealed that some US plans involve deploying ground troops to take control of parts of the Strait of Hormuz to restore commercial shipping. Currently, the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, affecting approximately 20% of global oil and gas supplies, with international energy prices continuing to rise. Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei stated that Iran will maintain ‘absolute control’ over the Strait and warned foreign powers that they ‘can only be buried at the bottom of the sea.’ Meanwhile, the US is pushing to form an international coalition called the ‘Maritime Freedom Framework’ to ensure navigation safety in the Strait after the conflict ends, but countries like France and the UK have only expressed willingness to participate in related actions after a ceasefire. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked for an extended period, global economic growth will significantly slow down, potentially triggering more severe inflation and food crises.