In Iranian strategic thinking, the Strait of Hormuz is seen as both a strategic constraint and an indispensable instrument of national power. Over the years, Tehran has also sought to rally Persian Gulf States around the Strait to advance talks on cooperation in trade, joint efforts to maintain stability, and, more broadly, a cooperative regional order, with Iran acting as a “security guarantor.” However, during periods of tension and security threats from the United States, Iran has adopted a reactive ‘security spoiler’ posture in the Strait. In other words, Iran instrumentalises the Strait as part of a threat-balancing strategy to secure political gains. Iran’s leverage over the Strait is rooted in its broader geographic position: a coastline stretching nearly 1,500 miles along the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, combined with proximity to key islands and chokepoints, enabling layered, asymmetric pressure.
