Control over the Strait of Hormuz has become Iran's "golden weapon," a priority that rivals or even surpasses its nuclear program, according to Iranian officials and analysts. This strategic focus carries the risk of new escalations with the United States, as Iran asserts its dominance over the vital waterway.
Ships passing through the Strait without Tehran's approval were fired upon this week, leading to an exchange of fire with the U.S. This incident threatens a recent interim peace deal aimed at ending the wider conflict. Iranian leaders now view the Strait, through which one-fifth of global energy supplies pass, as their strongest leverage in disputes with the West.
"Recognize the new Iranian order in the Strait of Hormuz: this is the only way forward," wrote Ebrahim Azizi, a member of the Iranian parliament’s national security and foreign policy committee, on social media, addressing the United States. Despite concerns about overplaying its hand, the prevailing view in Tehran is that relinquishing control of such a critical asset is not an option.
Hormuz as a Strategic Priority
The interim deal, signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, reopened the Strait to more traffic, but its wording on the waterway's ultimate management remains a point of contention. The memorandum of understanding states that Iran "will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge for 60 days only." Iranian negotiators interpret this as U.S. acknowledgment of Iran's right to manage the waterway, albeit without charging fees for the specified period. However, the United States and Gulf states reject this interpretation, asserting that Iran's role is to facilitate safe passage, not impose restrictions backed by force.
The shift in focus toward Hormuz is partly fueled by distrust of the United States, exacerbated by President Trump's 2018 withdrawal from the nuclear deal, his resumption of hostilities after a previous ceasefire, and an unannounced military action during diplomatic negotiations. Senior Iranian sources indicate that backing down on the Hormuz issue would embolden Trump to intensify demands concerning Iran's nuclear program and missile capabilities, an outcome deemed unacceptable.
History of Control and Conflict
Iran had long warned of its ability to close the Strait, describing it as a move as easy as "drinking a glass of water." However, officials had privately expressed reluctance due to the potential for international isolation, alienating Gulf neighbors and global energy consumers, and damaging its own economy. This calculation changed following attacks on February 28 by the United States and Israel, which resulted in the deaths of Iran's supreme leader and other high-ranking officials. In response, Iran closed the Strait to all traffic except its own, causing significant disruption to global energy supplies.
Washington, after initial hesitation over oil price impacts, imposed a blockade on Iranian ports in April. The mounting costs of the Hormuz blockade eventually led both sides to agree to the current deal. Having demonstrated its ability to force the U.S. to the negotiating table by closing the Strait, Iran now seeks to formalize this control.
Nuclear Negotiations De-emphasized
"Both sides were having anxieties about the immediate economic problems they were facing. But both sides also think they’ve won. So there’s this view that they just need to push a bit further to get what they want," said Ali Ansari, a modern history professor at the University of St Andrews. Iran's current strategic calculus places far greater emphasis on the Strait of Hormuz than on its nuclear program. Tehran believes that Washington has accepted its right to uranium enrichment and the domestic dilution of its existing highly enriched uranium stocks.
For nearly 25 years, the nuclear program was the primary point of contention between Iran and the United States, leading to major international sanctions and serving as a key justification for the recent war. However, negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear activities have been relegated to further discussions within the interim agreement. Iran has reportedly refused to engage in nuclear talks until the United States fully accepts its management of the Strait of Hormuz.
