The Suez Crisis stopped the British Empire. Will Hormuz defeat the US?

Video Duration 01 hours 04 minutes 44 seconds 01: 04: 44.

Key points

• Laleh Khalili (@lalehkhalili), Political Scientist and Author of 'Sinews of War and Trade'.
• This episode was produced by Mohamed Hassan, Marcos Bartolome and Sonia Bhagat.
• In the latest episode of Al Jazeera's new podcast, Deja Vu looks at how oil, shipping and war shape the Gulf.
• What happens when a revolutionary movement takes control of the world's most vital waterway, bringing global oil shipping to a halt and provoking war with an empire?

What happens when a revolutionary movement takes control of the world's most vital waterway, bringing global oil shipping to a halt and provoking war with an empire? It is not the Strait of Hormuz, but the Suez Crisis of 70 years ago. In 1956, Egypt shut the Suez Canal and took on three armies alone. When the canal reopened months afterwards, with Egypt in control, the region and the global economy would change forever.

This episode was produced by Mohamed Hassan, Marcos Bartolome and Sonia Bhagat. It was edited by Alexandra Locke. Our engagement producer is Adam Abou-Gad. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Published On 23 Aug 202623 Aug 2026.

Taken together, the developments around the Suez Crisis stopped the British Empire. Will Hormuz defeat the US? Point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.