Why the Iran War is still happening

Here’s why the Iran War is still happening. Senior Iranian officials ratcheted up their threats as the latest exchange of strikes with the United States spilled into Monday, with neither side showing signs of backing down from a cycle of attacks that is unraveling the cease-fire and pushing the region into deeper uncertainty. Traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted after Iran’s attack on a Cypriot-flagged container ship on Saturday set off an exchange of strikes with the United States. Just 14 ships passed through the waterway on Sunday, the lowest level in a month, according to figures from Kpler, a maritime data firm. Of those ships, only three were tankers exiting the Persian Gulf laden with crude oil, chemicals or other commodities, and all three were shadow or sanctioned vessels. Before the start of the war in late February, an average of more than 130 vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz daily. Caption from article by Hari RajEric SchmittJenny Gross and Leo Sands, The New York Times.