Iranian authorities stress Strait of Hormuz as atomic bomb-level strategic asset
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 9
Iranian authorities stress Strait of Hormuz as atomic bomb-level strategic asset
8 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 9
Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran is still reviewing a US proposal, while senior adviser Mohamad Mokhber said control of the strait can sway the global economy.
Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref said Iran's grip on the waterway could blunt expanding US sanctions, as state media signalled the strait's status may now rival the nuclear programme.
The messaging comes amid mediated US-Iran talks, recent exchanges of fire between the IRGC and US warships, and hardline resistance to concessions on nuclear and missile issues.
Iran claims the Strait is its real atomic bomb. Is the West focused on the wrong threat?
As China props up Iran's economy, is America's era of policing global trade routes over?
Strait of Hormuz Crisis 2026: The Biggest Oil Supply Shock in History and Its Global Economic Fallout
Overview
The Strait of Hormuz is facing a widening battle, with Iran asserting its leverage after suffering military and energy infrastructure damage. In response to recent clashes, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones, some of which struck the UAE and wounded civilians, escalating tensions in this vital waterway. The United States, through CENTCOM, has enforced a blockade on vessels entering or leaving Iran and launched 'Project Freedom' to secure shipping routes. These actions have severely disrupted commercial shipping, creating a compromised transit environment and triggering immediate global economic fallout, especially in energy markets.