Iran is expected to use the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool to secure gains in nuclear programme negotiations [1].
Control over this vital maritime chokepoint allows Tehran to threaten global energy supplies, potentially forcing international negotiators to offer more favorable terms to avoid economic instability.
Faisal Abu Saleeb, a professor of political science at Kuwait University, said Iran will continue using the strait as a leverage card to achieve the greatest possible gains [1]. He said the country will not stop disrupting maritime navigation before a final agreement regarding its nuclear file is reached [1].
This strategy of maritime disruption aligns with broader regional tensions. The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, serves as one of the world's most critical shipping lanes for oil and gas.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), the former Secretary of State, addressed the potential for escalation in a report dated June 2, 2026 [2]. Rubio said that if Iran insists on closing the Strait of Hormuz, the blockade against the country will remain in place with full force [2].
Rubio's comments emphasize a policy of containment and deterrence. The U.S. approach suggests that any attempt to weaponize the strait would be met with intensified sanctions, or military pressure, to ensure the flow of commerce.
Academic and political observers suggest that the nuclear programme remains the central point of contention. The use of the strait as a bargaining chip indicates that Iran views its geographic advantage as a primary tool for diplomatic coercion.
“Iran will continue using the strait as a leverage card to achieve the greatest possible gains”
The potential disruption of the Strait of Hormuz represents a high-stakes gamble where Iran leverages global economic vulnerability to bypass diplomatic stalemates. By threatening the transit of oil, Tehran attempts to shift the cost of nuclear negotiations from itself to the global market, while the U.S. response signals a willingness to maintain a strict blockade to prevent the weaponization of the waterway.
