Iran Holds Hormuz for 3 Months, Using Triangular Coercion to Blunt U.S.-Israeli Pressure
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Iran Holds Hormuz for 3 Months, Using Triangular Coercion to Blunt U.S.-Israeli Pressure
6 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 20
Nearly three months into the conflict, Iran has turned early battlefield losses into leverage, helping force a stalemate instead of the quick U.S.-Israeli victory many expected.
Since mid-March, Tehran has kept control of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil and gas trade, while limiting U.S. and Israeli strikes on its energy sector.
That pressure also reached beyond the battlefield: Iran influenced President Trump to rein in Israel’s war in Lebanon against Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia.
Analysts describe the strategy as “triangular coercion” — using third-party vulnerabilities and regional spillover to offset the military advantage of stronger adversaries.
Iran fought superpowers to a stalemate. Does this war signal a new era of asymmetric military dominance?
As Iran imposes yuan-denominated tolls in the Strait of Hormuz, is the era of the petrodollar finally over?
With the U.S. mired in the Middle East, is China exploiting the crisis to cement a new global order?
2026 Strait of Hormuz Blockade: US-Iran Standoff and the Global Energy Fallout
Overview
The Strait of Hormuz crisis escalated after the US military announced a blockade on all Iranian ports and coastal areas, a move by President Trump to pressure Iran and prevent it from benefiting from maritime exports if it tried to block others’ access. This action risks driving global oil prices higher and could reignite broader conflict. Experts argue that Iran’s export revenue funds its nuclear and military programs, while some suggest seized funds should help the Iranian people. The blockade has triggered economic fallout, disrupted energy markets, and intensified geopolitical tensions, highlighting the complex interplay between military action, economic impact, and international diplomacy.