Apr 15, 2026 12:52 pm IST

Opinion | Mines, Submarines, Missiles: The Iranian Traps Waiting For Trump At The 21-Km 'Chokepoint'

Iran is relying on the symmetric advantage of geography to fight against the brute power of the world's largest and most powerful navy, the US.

Col (Retd) Rajeev Agarwal Col (Retd) Rajeev Agarwal Columnist

Col (Retd) Rajeev Agarwal Columnist

When the US and Israel launched pre-emptive strikes into Iran on February 28, the 'existential' and 'imminent' threats cited by them were more associated with Iran's nuclear programme and its ballistic missile capabilities. Obviously, the regime in Iran was a major irritant too. What was definitely not in any equation or calculation was the Strait of Hormuz and how this narrow sea passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean could become the primary issue in the conflict.

Result? Iran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz early in the war claiming that it is open but only if the ships follow its 'technical instructions'. As soon as a few tankers defying the diktat were bombed and up in flames, the Strait became automatically closed, remaining open technically only to select ships on a case-by-case basis and, as per reports, payment of a premium to Iran. Iran also claimed to have mined the main channels in the Strait and redesignated the 'in-and-out channels' closer to its shores, on either side of its Larak Island. The US Navy, threatened by Iranian missiles and drones, had to retreat out of the Persian Gulf, into a safe distance into the Sea of Oman, and President Trump issued a warning that if the free passage through the Strait of Hormuz is not opened by 8.00 PM EST on April 8, 2026, the US and Israel will bomb and destroy Iran's power infrastructure and bridges.

With Iran not relenting, Israel in fact, bombed and damaged a crucial railway bridge, the Yahya Abad railway bridge in central Iran's Kashan city on April 7, while the US conducted airstrikes on the Kharg island of Iran targeting critical oil infrastructure on the same day. Just as it was looking like the conflict could escalate sharply, against the run of play, Trump unilaterally declared a 15-day ceasefire mere 90 minutes before the deadline was to expire, stating that it was based on........

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