US-Iran Clashes Escalate Over Strait of Hormuz Control Amid Regional Power Struggles

In recent days, tensions between the United States and Iran have sharply escalated following Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a strong US military response targeting dozens of Iranian sites. President Donald Trump has adopted a particularly aggressive tone, labeling Tehran a "cancer" and accusing it of assassination attempts against him. Dr. Shay Har-Tzvi, head of the International and Middle East arena at Reichman University, explains that the core conflict is not about Iran's nuclear program but control over vital global trade routes, especially the Strait of Hormuz.

Har-Tzvi highlights that Iran aims to assert dominance over the strait to impose tolls on passing tankers and maintain leverage over global energy supplies. The US, in turn, seeks to open alternative shipping lanes near Oman, which Iran views as a direct threat to its strategic gains. Despite the harsh rhetoric and military exchanges, both sides appear to be maintaining certain "rules of engagement" to avoid a full-scale war, with Iran focusing attacks mainly on US bases in the region and avoiding escalation toward Saudi Arabia, the UAE, or Israel.

The analyst notes that while neither side desires a broader conflict, the risk of escalation remains high as each attack and retaliation could spiral into wider hostilities. Har-Tzvi also discusses the implications for Israel, suggesting that Trump's personal frustration with Iran could strengthen US-Israel strategic cooperation, though Israel must remain pragmatic and propose achievable goals rather than unrealistic regime change plans.

Additionally, Har-Tzvi points to a covert front of regional rivalry between Israel and Turkey over control of the IMEC trade corridor from India to Europe. Turkey, leveraging President Erdogan's good relations with Trump, pushes for the corridor to pass through Syria and Turkey, while Israel advocates routing it via Gulf states to maintain its regional economic influence. This economic contest could reshape Middle Eastern geopolitics, requiring Israel to navigate carefully with US support.