India, April 13 -- The latest episode of Hindustan Times' 'Point Blank', featuring Executive Editor Shishir Gupta in conversation with Senior Anchor Aayesha Varma, paints a stark picture of a Middle East war that has paused, not ended, and a global order that could be reshaped by what happens in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

At the heart of the conversation is the United States' announcement of a naval blockade at the Strait of Hormuz, ordered by President Donald Trump after the collapse of talks in Islamabad and reports of Iranian oil tankers heading to China. The plan, as outlined, is to block Iranian and Iran‑allied ships from entering or exiting, while allowing non‑Iranian shipping to pass, with implementation slated f...