Iranian researcher and expert Roi Kahanovich said in a Wednesday interview with Sara Beck that Tehran has turned the Strait of Hormuz into its main bargaining chip against the United States, and that the war has shifted from an effort to topple the Iranian regime to a broader global economic confrontation.
Kahanovich argued that Iranian control of the strait is not new, but has been a long-standing fact. He said Iran has direct control over three strategic islands, the Tunbs and Abu Musa, and claimed, “The Iranians controlled the Strait of Hormuz long before Trump even started dealing with real estate.” In his view, this control gives Tehran leverage over what he called the world’s “breathing artery.”
He said about 20 percent of global oil production passes through the strait, and that this economic advantage has translated into unprecedented political confidence in Tehran. Kahanovich said this is reflected in Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf’s demand for direct involvement in negotiations over the hostage deal and arrangements in Gaza. He said Iran now sees itself as a regional hegemon in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf, and no longer wants only to direct proxy forces from behind the scenes.
Kahanovich also warned that money flowing to Tehran is not being used for the welfare of Iran’s roughly 90 million citizens, but is going instead to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the nuclear program, ballistic systems, and regional proxies. He concluded that this sense of victory is also encouraging Hamas to harden its position in negotiations, because it believes support from Tehran is more secure than ever.
