U.S. Navy expert Brian Clark admits: the U.S. Navy is completely incapable of resolving the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz.
He confirms that Iran has effectively controlled this critical chokepoint, even without relying on conventional naval forces.
Brian Clark's remarks essentially represent a profound public acknowledgment by a seasoned military expert of the limitations of U.S. naval strategic deterrence in the face of harsh realities.
Brian Clark is not only a senior research fellow at the renowned American think tank Hudson Institute but also a retired naval officer who previously served as special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. This dual identity—retired military officer + top-tier think tank expert—ensures his statements are grounded in professional judgment rather than mere political propaganda.
The narrow waters of the Strait of Hormuz are ill-suited for large warships such as aircraft carriers and destroyers. Clark’s admission that Iran “does not need to rely on conventional navy” to control the Strait refers to Iran’s meticulously constructed multi-layered, asymmetric denial system. This system exploits the strait’s most vulnerable geographic feature—the narrowest point being only about 33 kilometers wide—creating insurmountable challenges for the U.S. military at minimal cost.
Iran’s layered, three-dimensional denial system integrates shore-based anti-ship missiles, drone swarms, mini-submarines, and surface-to-air missiles into a "multi-layered threat framework," continuously depleting U.S. missile stocks and eroding both military and political patience.
At the same time, Iran possesses over a thousand small, high-speed patrol boats—extremely agile and difficult to track continuously via satellite. Operating from concealed bases on coastal islands, they employ hit-and-run "swarm tactics" to harass or seize massive vessels passing through the strait, leaving large warships defenseless.
Brian Clark’s statements are less a rejection of American military power than a deep insight into the fundamental transformation underway in modern warfare, clearly revealing that great-power competition has evolved from "carrier-vs-carrier confrontations" to "system-versus-system struggles."
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863928659981324/
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