Iran’s response to the American closure of the Strait of Hormuz, among other actions, was not arbitrary. Rather, it was a calculated reaction directed at US interests. A brief examination of the Strait of Hormuz’s importance to the United States, in particular, and its policy of containing the escalation with the Houthis in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb at the end of 2023, helps to understand the recent developments in the region’s crisis. Although the Strait was not among the points of contention between the United States and Iran before the war, it has now become a priority, especially after the US imposed a blockade on Iranian ships and ports surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and demanded, during direct negotiations between the two countries in Islamabad, that Iran cease its threats related to the Strait. 

The Strait of Hormuz is considered the world’s most important maritime energy chokepoint, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Approximately 20% of the world’s daily oil consumption and a third of its liquefied natural gas trade pass through it. Located within the territorial waters of both Iran and Oman, the strait is subject to the “Transit Passage” system, as it is considered an international waterway under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This convention prohibits the imposition of transit fees, Iran has threatened to levy, and which the International Maritime Organization has deemed a dangerous precedent.

The United States plays a crucial role in securing maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Through the Fifth Fleet, whose stated mission is “protecting freedom of navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz,” the United States protects ships, escorts oil tankers when necessary, and deters threats. The United States thus controls the Strait through its significant military capabilities deployed in and around the region, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, missile defence systems, and reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, even under normal circumstances, i.e., before any crisis occurs.

The United States also maintains an air presence in the Gulf, based at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which includes a diverse fleet of reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft as well as fighter jets (F-15, F-16, F-35). Furthermore, it possesses missile defence systems such as Patriot and THAAD, deployed in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. In addition, the United States maintains tens of thousands of ground troops in the region, though this number fluctuates depending on regional developments. These forces are stationed at bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE.

This strategic and comprehensive military presence in the region was developed gradually. Historically, it began after the British withdrawal from the region, relying on its allies, without the need to deploy a large number of American troops. However, the success of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 marked the beginning of a real American military presence, practically embodied in President Jimmy Carter’s announcement of........

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