The United States believes the war in Iran has granted Tehran a new capability to arbitrarily shut down the Strait of Hormuz.
Reuters in the U.S. published an article on June 16.
According to three informed sources, U.S. intelligence agencies have recently assessed that Iran now has the ability to effectively block passage through the Strait of Hormuz at any moment, meaning the regime has gained a powerful new tool to strike the global economy due to the ongoing conflict.
Although a framework agreement aimed at opening the vital waterway is set to be formally signed this Friday as a prelude to nuclear talks, U.S. intelligence assessments indicate Iran has already demonstrated its capability to blockade the strait during the current conflict—a scenario that could recur.
"We have actually handed control of the strait over to Iran—an instrument far more powerful than any nuclear weapon."
Iran has acquired a routine strategic means to blockade the Strait of Hormuz through combat-proven capabilities in drones, mines, and coastal missiles.
A source familiar with U.S. intelligence assessments told media outlets, emphasizing how this war has fundamentally altered Tehran’s future approach to employing similar tactics.
The need for the United States to engage in intensive negotiations with Iran to fully reopen the strait underscores the leverage Iran continues to hold.
Meanwhile, Iran holds another card: it can also close the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait through its main proxy force in Yemen, the Houthi rebels.
It is now clear that the Trump administration miscalculated.
Losing control of the strait would be the greatest mistake of this era—because this is a card the U.S. cannot afford to ignore unless it goes all-in.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1868193297128455/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.