Speaking in an interview with IQNA, Mohammad Parsa Najafi said the Americans tried to dissuade Iran from exercising its rights and sovereignty in this strategic waterway by creating alternative routes south of the Strait of Hormuz and intensifying military pressure, but in the end they realized that they could not remove the Strait of Hormuz from regional and global equations.

Referring to recent developments in the region and the increasing importance of geopolitical issues in the Persian Gulf, he said that the Americans, thinking that Iran would be surprised, carried out a criminal and aggressive attack against Iran in late February, but Iran subsequently showed that it has the necessary ability to defend itself and can use its geopolitical capabilities to secure national interests.

“One of the most important of these capacities is the Strait of Hormuz and its role in the entry and exit of energy carriers from the Persian Gulf. Recent developments have shown that Iran can be influential in the path of the world energy market and use this capacity as a lever of pressure and a deterrent against the United States.”

US shift of focus from Iran’s domestic issues to the Strait of Hormuz

Najafi stated that after recent developments, the focus of America’s attention has changed from Iran’s domestic issues to the Strait of Hormuz and geopolitical issues.

If Iran restricts the entry and exit of energy from the Persian Gulf, the export of crude oil, gas, oil derivatives and other goods produced in the Persian Gulf countries will be affected, and this could put significant pressure on the US and its allies and economic partners.

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Referring to the US effort to create alternative routes in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, he said that in recent weeks, the Americans tried to propose a an alternative route in the Omani part of the Strait of Hormuz but Iran reacted to and prevented the Strait of Hormuz from being removed from the framework of Iran's rights and interests.

“The Americans thought that by intensifying operations in southern Iran, they could dissuade our country from pursuing its rights in the Strait of Hormuz, but Iran’s response made them realize that they could not easily remove the Strait of Hormuz from Iran’s reach.”

Yemen's role in regional energy equations

Referring to Yemen’s role in regional equations, he said Iran’s ally, the Yemeni National Salvation Government, is using the capacity of the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pursue a dual goal; first, to impose Yemeni sovereignty over this waterway and put pressure on Saudi Arabia, and second, to try to lift the blockade that has been imposed on the Yemeni people for years.

Najafi added that the importance of this issue stems from the fact that Saudi Arabia has alternative capacities to transport its oil from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea. Among these capacities is the East-West Saudi pipeline, which transports oil from the coasts of the Persian Gulf to the coasts of the Red Sea and enables the export of part of Saudi oil to global markets.

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When the Bab al-Mandeb route is restricted, part of the oil transport capacity and access to global markets will also be affected, he noted.

“In such circumstances, a reduction in oil supply can provide the basis for an increase in energy prices, and subsequently, the prices of other energy-related goods, including natural gas and some petrochemical and chemical products, will also be affected.”

Strait of Hormuz; the hub of world energy trade

This expert continued by emphasizing the position of the Strait of Hormuz in the global economy and said it should be considered one of the most strategic waterways in the world.

“After the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait are also considered among the most important sea passages in the world.”

Stressing the high volume of energy exports from the Persian Gulf, he said a significant part of the world's oil consumption is supplied from the Persian Gulf region, and a significant part of the oil produced in the countries bordering this region must also pass through sea routes to access global markets.

“For this reason, any development in the Strait of Hormuz can directly affect the global economy, international trade, and the prices of consumer goods, especially energy.”

Najafi emphasized that Iran’s exercise of rights in the Strait of Hormuz can have an impact on the future strategic and geopolitical developments in the region.

“In previous years, Iran did not use this capacity as a lever of pressure, but using the capacities of the Strait of Hormuz in the developments of recent months can be considered one of Iran’s most important strategic actions.”

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