While Washington insists it is working to “secure” passage through the Strait of Hormuz for the world, recent reports describe mounting tensions. The framing is as revealing as the facts: the United States attempts to portray its actions as “a public good”, even as the origins of the crisis lie on its doorstep.

Prior to the escalation started by the US-Israeli strikes on Iran the strait was not at the center of a crisis. This causal sequence should not be obscured by Washington’s altruistic claim. If someone sets alight a house and then seeks credit for trying to extinguish the blaze, the applause is likely to be muted.

Washington argues that the US itself does not depend on the Strait of Hormuz. Yet inflation in the US remains stubborn, with energy costs a persistent driver. Declining approval ratings for the US administration and the looming pressure of midterm elections underscore the domestic stakes.

In this light, when Washington alleges that Iran is on the verge of collapse, Iran desperately wants a deal, or that Tehran has more to lose from a closure of the strait, it is not unreasonable to infer the opposite.

The diplomatic theater of........

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