Source: Fortune
Summary
Iran has established a “safe” shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, allowing approved vessels to pass through Iranian territorial waters. The corridor is controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the port authority, and ships must provide extensive details about ownership and cargo destination in advance. At least nine ships have used the alternate route, including two India-flagged gas tankers. The U.S. is considering deploying ground troops to reopen the strait and has sent thousands of Marines to the Middle East.
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The numbers tell one story. Iran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz has reduced traffic to a trickle, with only 20% of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas being transported through the strait. The U.S. is trying to reopen the strait, but Iran’s alternate route has become a de facto ship registration system. The IRGC is expected to establish a more formalized approval process. The U.S. is considering an operation to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island, which processes 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
The strategy enters a familiar phase. Iran’s control over the strait has given it leverage over the global economy, and the U.S. is trying to regain control. The outcome of the war may depend on the U.S. sending ground troops into Iran. As one senior administration official said, “He wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that’s going to happen.”
Author: Evan Null
