India, Aug. 2 -- The war expanded drastically in scope when Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced 'a maritime embargo against criminal Saudi Arabia,' and blocked Saudi shipping in the Bab-el-Mandeb Straits.

The resumption of the US-Iran war after a brief pause in hostilities seemed almost an inevitability. Even after the much-touted Memorandum of Understanding was signed on 14 June, which ended ninety days of fighting, it was clear that it would only be a brief respite. The MoU proposed a 60-day truce for negotiations, during which the two sides would discuss to find a final settlement. There was ambiguity about the status of the Straits of Hormuz-it would remain open, though Iran retained some measure of control over it. All it agreed ...