Iran Controls Strait of Hormuz to Leverage Global Oil Flows

The Government of Iran has leveraged its military capabilities and geography to establish de facto command over the Strait of Hormuz. As a critical maritime artery, the strait handles one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows, providing Iranian leaders significant strategic leverage during five months of conflict.

U.S. officials and Gulf states are working to neutralize this advantage. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that shutting the strait is a strategic move that can only be executed once. Meanwhile, Gulf states are developing alternative export routes to lower their dependency on the waterway.

Tom Barrack, the envoy of Donald Trump to Iraq and Syria, predicted that the strait will become an afterthought in two years as these alternative routes and strategic shifts take hold.