Iran and the US are engaged in a race to locate a crew member of a crashed American fighter jet as the Strait of Hormuz remains under pressure and Gulf states move to harden their defenses.
Who Controls the Chokepoint
US intelligence sources indicate that Iran is unlikely to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz soon. The US has pledged to target more Iranian infrastructure as nations work to open the Strait of Hormuz. Trump criticized Europe over Hormuz on March 31, 2026, stating on Truth Social that European states “will have to start learning how to fight for yourself.”
French and Japanese ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such crossings since the war began. A ship with French ownership passed through the Strait of Hormuz on April 3, 2026, a day after French President Emmanuel Macron stated that a military operation to reopen it would be unrealistic. The Strait remains central to the conflict’s economic and strategic pressure points.
What the Gulf Is Doing
The Gulf region is strengthening its defense ties with Ukraine, as Gulf states are rapidly integrating Ukraine into their defense systems. This move comes as sustained Iranian strikes have exposed weaknesses in existing air and missile defenses. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Emirati President Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on March 28, 2026.
Despite the war, Gulf dealmaking continues, with dealmakers from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar pursuing tech and AI opportunities. US firms are in Iran’s crosshairs, with Iranian threats, fuel shortages, and energy windfalls highlighting the increasing economic impact of regional tensions.
Regional Fallout
Iran has again struck the Gulf, hitting a Kuwait refinery, leading to the UAE shutting down its gas hub. Kuwait’s international airport experienced an Iranian drone attack on April 1, 2026, resulting in a large fire at a fuel depot. Three UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were wounded in relation to the ongoing regional tensions, as reported in connection with the Bahrain-related article.
Bahrain postponed its vote on a UN resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with coverage noting the broader regional security context. The Gulf kingdom of Bahrain is cracking down on dissent as the Iran war reignites internal unrest. An Iranian projectile struck an industrial area in Ma'ameer, Bahrain, on March 9, 2026.
The war in Iran has impacted financial markets, and the EU has warned that oil and gas prices will not immediately return to normal even if the Iran war concludes. Iraq’s oil hub is experiencing a slowdown due to the Strait of Hormuz shutdown, which is hindering exports. A worker was observed collecting engine oil at a degassing station in the Zubair oil field, near Basra, Iraq, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, with operations reduced due to the Mideast war.