The United Nations has sounded the alarm on a potentially massive global food crisis, citing the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Chief Economist for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Maximo Torero, warned that time is running out for countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Kenya, Brazil, and Thailand to plant their next crops. With the critical waterway closed, 35% of the world’s oil, 20% of its natural gas, and 20-30% of its fertilizers are stuck, leaving farmers without the necessary resources to produce crops.
“If farmers don’t get the fertilizers, they won’t plant as much, and even if they do, the crops won’t yield as much due to the lack of fertilizers,” Torero said. This, in turn, would lead to a global shortage of food, affecting people all over the world.
Torero also stated that, even if the Strait of Hormuz opens within a few days, it would take at least three months for the supply of oil, fertilizers, and gas to return to normal. The damage, he warned, would take months to recover from.
Meanwhile, the US is reportedly considering a $20 billion deal with Iran in exchange for a uranium deal, according to American media. In a statement, Donald Trump said that Iran has announced the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, announced on social media that, following the ceasefire in Lebanon, commercial ships will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Paris for a conference, where he and French President Emmanuel Macron will co-chair a meeting on the Hormuz crisis. Opposition parties in the UK have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Starmer.
In a statement, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi praised Pakistan’s role in facilitating the ceasefire, saying that Islamabad played an effective role in the mediation process. Lebanese President Michel Aoun said that the ceasefire is a positive step towards resolving the conflict.
However, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Seyed Mohammad Hassan Khademi, has stated that Iran will not accept any temporary ceasefire. Brigadier General Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced that Dubai police will increase traffic patrols and take strict action against anyone who poses a threat to road users.
In a tragic incident, a 11-year-old boy was thrown into a burning tandoor during a wedding ceremony in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has faced criticism for injecting a religious tone into his policy speeches. The US H-1B visa lottery has seen a significant improvement this year, with selection rates reaching 75% in some cases.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that its forces remain on high alert during the ceasefire period. Former US Governor of Virginia, Justin Fairfax, has taken his own life after allegedly shooting and killing his wife, Dr. Ghazala Fairfax, in a Washington D.C. suburb.
US President Donald Trump has expressed relief over the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. An animated video series has been created by Iranian creators, targeting US President Donald Trump and the US. Donald Trump has praised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir as “outstanding individuals.”
A Pakistani ship has set sail from Kuwait, bound for the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping sources in Karachi have confirmed that the Khairpur ship will pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The news of the Strait opening has led to a 12% drop in the price of crude oil.
Opposition parties in the UK have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Seyed Mohammad Hassan Khademi, has stated that Iran will not accept any temporary ceasefire.
