Iran war spreads through region as Trump seeks way out

Nearly seven months into the Iran war , negotiations between Washington and Tehran have led nowhere, and the conflict has spread from the Strait of Hormuz to another strategically important shipping route. In September, Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen took over critical positions on the Yemeni coast and are threatening Red Sea trade routes while launching attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia . This compounds a global energy crunch brought on by the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Earlier in September, Saudi officials blamed Iran-backed militias in Iraq for blowing up the critical East-West oil pipeline.