Study points to limits of Strait of Hormuz as central strategic lever for Iran

Following losses in the 2026 US-Israel conflict, Iran is increasingly focusing on the Strait of Hormuz as its primary strategic lever. Analysts note the strait's importance as a chokepoint for global crude oil and LNG, and Iran is utilizing it as a 'asymmetric' tool to impose costs on adversaries and disrupt markets. Recent agreements legitimizing Iranian claims over the waterway further highlight the escalating tensions.