Maersk halts Suez and Hormuz routes as war escalates in the Gulf

2026-03-02 - 06:37

Global shipping giant Maersk announced it is suspending vessel transit through both the Suez Canal and the Strait of Hormuz, citing safety concerns as hostilities intensify across the Middle East. The Danish shipping group joins a growing list of international carriers that have halted operations in the region after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the Strait of Hormuz closed on Saturday, dramatically heightening fears over global trade disruptions. The announcement comes as the regional conflict widened sharply. Iran and Iranian-backed groups launched missile attacks targeting Israel and several Arab states, while Israel and the United States carried out heavy strikes on Iranian targets, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reports. The latest wave of attacks marks the second coordinated military action by Washington and Tel Aviv against Iran in eight months. During the 12-day conflict last June, joint US-Israeli strikes significantly degraded Iran’s air defense systems, military leadership infrastructure, and elements of its nuclear program. With one of the world’s most critical energy and shipping corridors now under threat, concerns are mounting over potential supply chain shocks and rising oil prices if the standoff continues.