Yatharth Samachar
YATHARTH SAMACHAR
यथार्थ समाचार — वास्तविकता से रूबरू
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Iran's Growing Control Over Vital Strait of Hormuz Sparks Global Concern

होर्मुज जलडमरूमध्य पर ईरान का वास्तविक नियंत्रण वैश्विक चिंताएं बढ़ा रहा है

होर्मुझच्या सामुद्रधुनीवर इराणचे वास्तविक नियंत्रण जागतिक चिंतेची घंटा वाजवत आहे

হরমুজ প্রণালীর উপর ইরানের কার্যত নিয়ন্ত্রণ বিশ্বব্যাপী উদ্বেগ সৃষ্টি করছে

ஹோர்முஸ் நீரிணையின் மீது ஈரானின் உண்மையான கட்டுப்பாடு உலகளாவிய கவலையைத் தூண்டுகிறது

హార్ముజ్ జలసంధిపై ఇరాన్ వాస్తవ నియంత్రణ ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా ఆందోళనలను పెంచుతోంది

હોર્મુઝની સામુદ્રધુની પર ઇરાનનું વાસ્તવિક નિયંત્રણ વૈશ્વિક ચિંતા જગાવી રહ્યું છે

ਹੋਰਮੁਜ਼ ਜਲਡਮਰੂਮੱਧ 'ਤੇ ਈਰਾਨ ਦਾ ਅਸਲ ਕੰਟਰੋਲ ਗਲੋਬਲ ਚਿੰਤਾਵਾਂ ਵਧਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹੈ

By AI News Desk 🕐 21 May 2026, 03:28 PM 🌍 World
Iran's Growing Control Over Vital Strait of Hormuz Sparks Global Concern

A stark warning from a leading international security expert suggests a significant shift in geopolitical power dynamics in the Middle East. Rob Geist Pinfold, an International Security Lecturer at King's College London and a Senior Non Resident Fellow at the Gulf International Forum, recently shared his assessment with Al Jazeera, stating unequivocally that Iran now holds de facto control over the Strait of Hormuz. More concerning, Pinfold believes that "time is strengthening its hand," indicating a potentially irreversible trend.

Global Energy Chokepoint Under Scrutiny

The Strait of Hormuz is not merely a waterway; it is arguably the world's most critical oil chokepoint. Located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, it is the sole maritime passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean for oil-exporting countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Approximately one-fifth of the world's total petroleum consumption, including a substantial portion of global LNG, passes through this narrow strait daily. Any disruption here, whether through direct blockade or heightened tensions, sends immediate shockwaves through global energy markets and supply chains.

Pinfold's assertion of Iran's "de facto" control implies a practical, though perhaps not formally recognized, dominance over the strait's operations and security. This control is likely exercised through a combination of naval power, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy, strategic positioning of military assets, and the implied threat of disruption. For years, Iran has leveraged its geographical advantage, often threatening to close the strait in response to international sanctions or perceived aggression. This new assessment from Pinfold suggests these threats are evolving into a more consistent state of operational influence.

The implications of this development are profound. For global trade, it means increased vulnerability to geopolitical shifts and potential disruptions that could spike oil prices and destabilize economies worldwide. For regional stability, it could escalate tensions with Gulf Arab states and the United States, who view freedom of navigation through the strait as paramount. The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, has historically played a crucial role in safeguarding this passage. Iran's strengthening grip complicates international efforts to maintain maritime security and could empower Tehran in broader regional negotiations.

As Pinfold suggests, time appears to be on Iran's side, possibly due to a combination of factors including evolving military capabilities, a calculated strategy of asserting regional influence, and perhaps a perceived decrease in the international community's willingness or ability to challenge its assertions directly. This situation demands close attention from policymakers and underscores the volatile nature of a region that remains central to global energy security and geopolitical stability.

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