Letters, Control of Routes and Strategic Islands: The Strait at the Heart of the Dispute Between the US and Iran
The Strait of Hormuz was not part of previous rounds of fighting against Iran, but now the war is concentrated there. Ships that have not received transit permission from it are being attacked, and the…
Assessment
The strategic Strait of Hormuz has become the central flashpoint in the current US-Iran confrontation, shifting focus from previous rounds of conflict. Iran is asserting control by attacking vessels that lack its permission to pass, while the US has responded with strikes on strategic islands in the Gulf. The dispute now hinges on whether Iran can enforce its claimed authority over the waterway, with Tehran insisting it will control the strait with or without Oman's involvement. Any escalation here threatens global oil shipping and regional stability directly.