Iran Exerts Control Over Strait of Hormuz Maritime Traffic

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is exercising strategic control over the Strait of Hormuz by deploying asymmetric military capabilities and leveraging its geographic position. During February 2026, the organization conducted a military exercise titled "Smart Control of the Strait of Hormuz" to demonstrate its capacity to monitor maritime traffic and respond to security threats.

To achieve this control, the IRGC deployed drones, sea mines, fast attack craft, and mobile coastal missile batteries. Although the waterway remains formally open, the credible threat of force has caused a severe decrease in shipping traffic and shifted insurance risk assessments for commercial vessels.

Iran has moved toward a system of selective transit, permitting vessels to pass only after they coordinate with Iranian authorities. This strategy allows the state to maintain a deterrent effect over the chokepoint without relying on conventional naval dominance.