Strait of Hormuz Becomes Iran’s Strategic Leverage, General Hatami Says
Iran’s Army Chief Commander General Amir Hatami said Sunday, August 16, 2026, that the Strait of Hormuz has become a lasting strategic asset for Tehran following the war with the United States
Hatami described the strait as a “geopolitical asset given by God to the Iranian nation”, arguing that the conflict had activated a leverage Iran already possessed but had not previously used.
«“Without this war, it would not have been activated,” Hatami said.»
He added that Iran would protect the strategic waterway “with all its forces” and claimed that maintaining this leverage would be among Tehran’s conditions for ending the war and ensuring that the threat of renewed conflict is lifted from Iran.
The remarks signal that control and security around the Strait of Hormuz could remain a central bargaining tool for Iran in any future negotiations.