Iran Says Strait of Hormuz Leverage Will Never Return to Its Previous State
Iranian Army Chief General Amir Hatami has described the Strait of Hormuz as a strategic asset for Iran, saying Tehran’s leverage over the vital waterway has been permanently transformed by the recent conflict.
“The sacred Strait of Hormuz is a God-given geopolitical asset for the Iranian people, and this leverage will never return to its previous state,” Hatami said.
He argued that one of the consequences of the U.S. president’s actions was the activation of the Strait’s strategic potential, saying Iran had long understood its importance but that the conflict brought its geopolitical significance to the forefront.
“We knew about this potential, but without this conflict, it would not have been activated,” Hatami said.
The Iranian military chief further indicated that control and leverage over the Strait of Hormuz would be an important factor in any effort to end the conflict.
According to Hatami, maintaining this leverage is among the prerequisites for reaching an end to the war in a way that removes the threat of renewed military action against Iran.
The remarks underscore the strategic importance Tehran places on the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes and a critical passage for global oil and gas shipments.