Iran considers itself invulnerable because it believes it can continue to menace and disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz [1, 2].

This strategic posture creates a persistent tension in one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints. Because the waterway sits between Iran and Oman, any disruption threatens the global flow of energy and trade, granting the Iranian regime significant leverage over international powers.

Jonathan Tobin, Editor-in-Chief of the Jewish News Syndicate, said that Iran views its ability to threaten shipping as a primary source of its perceived security [1, 2]. According to Tobin, the regime believes that its capacity to interfere with the freedom of navigation serves as a deterrent against external intervention.

Tobin said that the current geopolitical dynamic is unlikely to change through diplomacy or limited sanctions alone. He said that the threat to international shipping and the risk of terrorism are tied directly to the existence of the current government [1].

"I think we’re at the point where it’s clear that nothing short of toppling that regime is going to end the threat to the Straits and the freedom of shipping or its threat of international terrorism," Tobin said [1].

The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of regional instability. The Iranian regime's belief in its own invulnerability stems from the high cost the international community would face if the waterway were closed or heavily disrupted [2].

Tobin said that Iran will continue to see itself as invulnerable so long as it can maintain this ability to menace shipping [2]. This creates a cycle where the regime uses the waterway as a tool for strategic leverage, while global powers must balance the need for maritime security with the risk of escalating a broader conflict.

“Iran considers itself ‘invulnerable’ so long as it can continue to ‘menace’ shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.”

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz illustrates a strategy of 'asymmetric deterrence.' By targeting a global economic vulnerability—the flow of oil and goods through a narrow passage—Iran offsets its conventional military disadvantages. This means that as long as the global economy remains dependent on this specific waterway, the Iranian regime possesses a powerful tool to discourage direct foreign intervention, regardless of international sanctions or diplomatic pressure.