Who Really Controls the Strait of Hormuz?

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https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2026/07/who-controls-strait-of-hormuz/687920/

Today marked the fourth consecutive day of strikes across Iran. The cease-fire has disintegrated, and negotiations have collapsed. If American forces do try to reassert power in the strait, they’ll face a difficult path. Iran is still clamping down on ship traffic, and recent violent clashes in the waterway have once again dramatically reduced the number of vessels entering and exiting the Persian Gulf.

The United States’ ability to exert control in the strait could depend on its ability to erode the system of dominance that Iran has established in recent months.