U.S. Intel Says Iran Can Choke 2 Sea Lanes as Hormuz Control Expands
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jun 16
U.S. Intel Says Iran Can Choke 2 Sea Lanes as Hormuz Control Expands
3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jun 16
Summary
U.S. intelligence found Iran now sees the Strait of Hormuz as a workable pressure point after the war showed it could successfully disrupt the waterway.
CNN reported the assessments say Tehran is planning to extend that shipping-choke strategy to the Bab-el-Mandeb strait if talks with Washington collapse.
The expansion would rely on Yemen's Houthi rebels, giving Iran a second route to threaten traffic between the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
That assessment builds on earlier U.S. findings that Iran can shut Hormuz at will, creating a durable new lever over global trade and energy flows.
The US miscalculated Iran's response. What does this reveal about the limits of superpower influence in modern conflicts?
The conflict threatened the world's AI chip supply. What is the real economic cost of weaponizing maritime trade routes?
Iran's 'Mosaic Defense' defied conventional military power. How can global forces adapt to counter this decentralized threat?
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Economic, Energy, and Security Impacts of a Monthslong Maritime Blockade
Overview
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis began when the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran, leading to the closure of the vital waterway and severe disruption of global trade. Tehran’s threats against shipping heightened tensions, causing significant economic impacts worldwide. After months of conflict, a preliminary agreement between the US and Iran in June 2026 enabled the reopening of the Strait, marking a crucial step toward peace and renewed diplomatic efforts. This fragile calm brought mixed reactions in global markets, with investment banks lowering oil price forecasts and stock markets showing uncertainty, highlighting ongoing risks and the delicate path to stability.