New Delhi, April 14 -- The Middle East edged closer to a wider war this week as Israeli strikes on Iran converged with a sweeping naval escalation, transforming the Strait of Hormuz into the most dangerous maritime chokepoint in the world.

The United States has now begun a blockade of Iran's ports following the collapse of high-stakes diplomatic talks, marking one of the most aggressive military-economic moves in recent years. President Donald Trump's order effectively restricts ships entering or leaving Iranian waters, with warnings that vessels defying the blockade could face interception or destruction.

At the same time, Israeli military operations have intensified across the region, linking battlefield developments directly with nav...