Politics
Closing the Strait: America’s Iran Blockade in Cartoons
By CM Chaney · July 18, 2026
Trump reinstated the US naval blockade on Iran's Strait of Hormuz after Iranian missile attacks on commercial shipping. Thirty editorial cartoons trace the full crisis arc—from soaring oil prices to naval standoffs and broken ceasefire deals—and ask whether America can truly control the world's most critical oil chokepoint.
Donald Trump sits on open end of Strait of Hormuz seesaw
Donald Trump perches on the open end of a seesaw marked Strait of Hormuz with shipping containers scattered along the plank. The Iranian leader occupies the closed end. The seesaw tilts toward the open side yet one container falls off. Trump appears alarmed with sweat drops visible. The base identifies the location as the vital waterway. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Points to Renamed Strait of Hormuz on Map
On July 13 2026 Donald Trump appears in a gray suit and red tie before a map of the Persian Gulf region. He points with a stick at the waterway between Iran UAE and Oman now labeled Strait of Trump. A speech bubble reads While we're at it. The image responds to ongoing executive actions on foreign geographic names and regional policy. Cagle Cartoons
Sharks with berets circle oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz
An oil tanker sails through the Strait of Hormuz while sharks wearing berets circle in the water below. A sign identifies the location and a warning marker highlights the hazard. The scene responds to 2019 tanker attacks in the area. Cagle Cartoons
Iran Conflict Sends Federal Budget Up in Smoke at One Billion Dollars Daily
A ship resembling the U.S. Capitol, labeled USA on the bow and Federal Budget on the stern, burns and sinks on water near Iran. Explosions dot the shoreline while fighter jets streak overhead and a small boat approaches. Thick black smoke billows upward with repeated dollar signs and the phrase 1 Billion Per Day. Cagle Cartoons
Uncle Sam on Oil IV After Iran Conflict Spikes Prices
The cartoon depicts Uncle Sam as an elderly patient in a hospital bed receiving an intravenous drip from an oil barrel. Text on the right panel criticizes the decision to eliminate solar and wind power initiatives, leaving the country reliant on oil, only for an attack on Iran to drive up prices for everyone. Cagle Cartoons
Iran's Octopus Grip on the Strait of Hormuz in Sharp Cartoon Satire
Cartoons like this one from Margolis and Cox cut straight to the absurdity of international posturing. Here, an oversized octopus labeled 'Iran' looms over a simplified map of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, its tentacles coiling tightly around the Strait of Hormuz. Cagle Cartoons
Navigating the Strait of Trump: Economy in Peril
Paresh Nath's cartoon depicts a swirling ocean vortex forming Donald Trump's face, pulling in a small boat marked economy with Uncle Sam at the oars, looking alarmed. The title Strait of Trump plays on geographic straits and dire straits, commenting on potential economic hazards. Waves crash around the scene, emphasizing chaos. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Lacks Leverage in High-Stakes Iran Showdown
Donald Trump sits at a poker table facing Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei with a backdrop of missile silos. Trump’s speech bubble reads “YOU DON’T HAVE THE...” while he displays cards including a joker marked Iran. The scene illustrates limited American leverage over Tehran’s nuclear and oil strategy in March 2026. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Forces Open Strait of Hormuz Oil Route
The cartoon depicts the Strait of Hormuz as a sardine can filled with oil barrels. A figure resembling Donald Trump is positioned inside the can as a large can opener begins to pry it open. A second figure stands on the can's edge. The image responds to tensions over the strategic waterway and potential US action regarding Iran. Cagle Cartoons
Strait of Hormuz depicted as hostage in tense standoff
The image shows a suited attacker holding a knife to a globe-headed figure marked as the Strait of Hormuz. The scene responds to ongoing tensions involving Iran and the strategic waterway in early 2026. The visual emphasizes vulnerability of the oil route under direct threat. Cagle Cartoons
Iran sets million-dollar toll on Strait of Hormuz traffic
The cartoon shows a massive ship representing commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz approaching an Iran-operated toll booth charging one million dollars. Two figures in the booth exchange remarks crediting Trump with business acumen. The scene illustrates tensions over control of the vital shipping route between Iran and Gulf states. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Figure Blocks Strait of Hormuz Shipping Lane
A large figure representing Donald Trump blocks the Strait of Hormuz in this April 2026 image. The figure's lower body sits in the water between steep cliffs, with an orange belt visible. Numerous ships of various sizes float or sink in the channel around the figure. Smoke trails appear in the sky above the distant horizon. Cagle Cartoons
Strait of Hormuz functions as critical oil flow restriction
A fuel nozzle stands in for the Strait of Hormuz. The bent hose and falling drop highlight how conflict near Iran could disrupt global oil shipments. The image ties current Middle East friction to energy access. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Points to Iran Deal Mirage in Desert Cartoon
The cartoon depicts a caricature of a man with blond hair and red tie standing in a sandy desert landscape. He points toward the right side of the image where a faint circular swirl appears in the sky. Cagle Cartoons
IRGC vulture rejects ceasefire amid Iran tensions
A pair of vultures labeled Iran and IRGC perch on a dead tree branch. The IRGC vulture rejects any ceasefire with a defiant quote about killing, reflecting ongoing Middle East tensions and the group's hardline posture during negotiations. Cagle Cartoons
Trump and Iran sit across table over Hormuz access
The image shows Donald Trump seated at one end of a long white table facing an Iranian cleric in a turban. Both figures rest on a large red oval background resembling a map of the Strait of Hormuz region. The composition places the two figures at opposite ends with the table stretching between them. Cagle Cartoons
Trump confronts Khamenei toll at Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump stands at the edge of a body of water confronting a toll booth operated by a figure resembling Ayatollah Khamenei. Small tankers sit in the water below while Trump issues a warning about walking on water. The scene references shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding nations. Cagle Cartoons
Iran's Oil Surplus Turns Kwik-Mart into Giveaway Central Amid U.S. Blockade
Gary McCoy's cartoon depicts two bearded Iranian clerics inside the Iran Kwik-Mart, promoting a free barrel of oil with Slurpee purchase to handle surplus crude. Outside, a hooded figure dumps an oil barrel into a car trunk, lamenting U.S. blockades on shipping ports. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Risks Trapping US Interests in Hormuz
Donald Trump appears in a 2026 editorial image holding a paintbrush and bucket while standing on a blue painted area resembling the Strait of Hormuz. The scene responds to ongoing concerns over Iranian oil routes, potential conflict, and resulting effects on global oil and gas prices. Cagle Cartoons
Trump repeatedly claims Iran War victory amid media updates
Panels show Donald Trump figures declaring victory in the Iran War. Successive media reports from figures resembling Jesse Watters interrupt with identical announcements. The sequence ends with a boast about unmatched historical wins by Donald J. Trump. Cagle Cartoons
Iranian cleric mocks memorandum in violin scene
The image shows a bearded cleric in black attire playing a violin. Text above reads played like a violin. A speech bubble questions the spelling of memorandum. Musical notes float nearby. Cagle Cartoons
Trump cheers as herd heads toward Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump stands on a green cliff edge pointing toward a herd of tusked animals marching off the drop into the water below a ship. The animals fall one after another as Trump smiles with a speech bubble reading WE WON! The title references the Strait of Hormuz. Cagle Cartoons
Iran Targets Trump's Exposed Weak Points
The cartoon depicts a hand labeled Iran reaching toward a series of buttons affixed to the back of Donald Trump. The buttons carry labels including vanity, insecurity, thin skin, need for praise and ego. Trump appears in a dark suit with his head turned slightly. The image frames the interaction as Iran exploiting personal vulnerabilities. Cagle Cartoons
US-Iran Ceasefire Wreckage Leaves Pilot Asking Next Step
A crashed aircraft labeled US-Iran Ceasefire lies in desert sand with rising smoke. The pilot, visible in the cockpit, asks what comes next after the agreement fails. Cagle Cartoons
Torn US-Iran Peace Agreement at Strait of Hormuz
A split-panel image contrasts a detailed geographic map of the Strait of Hormuz with a large white document labeled Peace Agreement that is visibly torn down the middle. The left side identifies key locations including Bandar Abbas and Qeshm. The right side emphasizes the broken accord between the US and Iran. Cagle Cartoons
Iranian figure directs crude flow toward Trump amid overhead aircraft
A robed Iranian figure operates a Hormuz crude gas pump with the hose labeled oil price inserted into the back of a blue suited Donald Trump wearing a red hat marked bomb baby bomb. Trump stands with both hands raised while military planes and a drone appear in the sky overhead. Cagle Cartoons
Trump Caught in Strait of Hormuz Barriers While Claiming Straight Talk
The cartoon depicts Donald Trump entangled in red-and-white barriers stretching across the Strait of Hormuz. He holds a hammer in one hand while gesturing with the other and declares through a speech bubble that he wants to be straight with the viewer. A bearded figure in traditional attire observes from inside a red booth on the shore. Cagle Cartoons