US intelligence warns Iran will keep Hormuz Strait closed
Intelligence reports suggest Tehran views its grip on the waterway as vital leverage to pressure the US to end the war. Experts warn of intervention risks.
Recent intelligence reports from the United States suggest that Iran is unlikely to ease its control over the Strait of Hormuz in the near future. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Tehran views its grip on this vital maritime artery as its primary leverage against Washington, especially as the conflict involving the U.S. and Israel enters its fifth week.
Tehran appears to be using its influence over the waterway to keep global energy prices elevated, exerting pressure on the U.S. administration to find a diplomatic exit from a war that remains unpopular with American voters. The blockade has already had a significant impact on global markets, pushing the price of Brent Crude Oil to multi-year highs and causing fuel shortages in several nations dependent on Gulf exports.
