When Donald Trump returned to the White House, he promised to avoid another Middle Eastern “forever war”. US military strikes have resumed and Iran has retaliated against American and its allies across the Gulf. The conflict has evolved over the years through sanctions, proxy warfare, covert operations and cyber conflict into a more direct military confrontation. Article 5 of the MoU envisaged Iran facilitating the safe passage of commercial shipping through the waterway. Much of the debate focuses on whether the latest escalation will produce a wider regional war.