Why gaining full control of Strait of Hormuz has proven so hard for U.S.
Summary
President Donald Trump has used military actions and threats to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for oil shipping. Experts say that fully controlling the strait would require a large U.S. military presence on Iranian land because Iran can still attack ships from hidden weapons.Key Facts
- The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway in the Middle East where 20% of the world’s oil passes through.
- President Trump has reimposed a blockade on Iran’s ports and plans to charge fees on cargo passing through the strait.
- Iran controls the strait and has hidden drones and missiles that can disrupt ship traffic.
- Experts say Iran has prepared for this kind of conflict for decades and can continue causing problems.
- Securing the strait by force would need tens of thousands of U.S. troops on the ground in Iran.
- Deploying such a large force would be expensive and could lead to insurgent attacks against U.S. soldiers.
- The conflict has caused oil prices to rise and affects U.S. politics ahead of the midterm elections.
- Both sides have exchanged fire recently, increasing the risk of a wider war.
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