Media: Iran sees Strait of Hormuz as key pressure point against US After strikes on nuclear sites

In the wake of US airstrikes on Iran’s key nuclear facilities, attention has turned to the Strait of Hormuz — a vital chokepoint for global oil trade — as Tehran hints it may retaliate by disrupting maritime traffic.

The narrow waterway between Iran and the Gulf states carries about a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil, and any attempt to block it could spike energy prices and disrupt the global economy, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

Iran has previously harassed commercial vessels in the region and, while it has never fully closed the strait, the threat of doing so remains a potent geopolitical tool.

Iranian officials said all options remain on the table following the latest US military escalation. Analysts suggest Tehran may exploit its strategic position to pressure Washington and its allies by making the Strait of Hormuz unsafe for navigation, without openly declaring a blockade.

Tactics could include deploying fast patrol boats, drones, or shore-based missiles, making commercial transit through the waterway too risky.

Greece’s shipping ministry has already urged domestic shipowners to reassess the use of the strait. Although oil flows had continued uninterrupted prior to the recent US strikes, any deterioration in maritime security could reverse that stability.

Historically, Iran has used maritime incidents to assert leverage. In April 2024, the Revolutionary Guard seized an Israel-linked vessel near Hormuz, shortly before launching drone and missile attacks on Israel.

Similar seizures in previous years often followed disputes over sanctions or retaliatory confiscations of Iranian oil.

The US and its partners have previously responded with naval escorts and joint maritime security operations.

However, naval focus in recent months has shifted southward to the Red Sea, where Iran-backed Houthi attacks on shipping have intensified.

Despite the threat, closing Hormuz would also hurt Iran, which relies on the strait for most of its oil exports.

While Tehran has an alternative export terminal at Jask, its capacity remains limited. Crucially, any such move would likely anger China, Iran’s top oil buyer and key diplomatic partner.

For now, the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but the risk of disruption looms large as tensions escalate in the region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev