Abdullah Bandar Al‑Atibi said the Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway that various parties attempt to exploit for political gain [1].
This assessment highlights a potential shift in regional power dynamics. As the strait serves as a primary artery for global energy supplies, any decrease in its strategic dominance could alter how nations negotiate with Iran.
Al‑Atibi, an assistant professor in the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University, discussed the geopolitical tensions surrounding the passage in a recent interview [1]. He said that Iran seeks to use the waterway as a tool to secure its political demands—essentially placing its requirements on one side of a scale and the strait on the other [1].
However, Al‑Atibi said that this strategy is facing diminishing returns. He said that Iran recognizes the strait is losing its attractiveness as other countries actively search for alternative routes to bypass the bottleneck [1].
The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman in the Persian Gulf, has long been a flashpoint for international tension. While Al‑Atibi describes it as an international waterway [1], other perspectives frame the passage as a tool for political blackmail rather than a simple transit corridor [2].
The pursuit of alternative shipping lanes suggests a broader global effort to reduce dependency on a single, volatile chokepoint. This trend may limit the ability of any single state to disrupt global trade to achieve diplomatic concessions [1].
“the strait’s attractiveness is decreasing as countries look for alternatives”
The perceived decline in the strategic value of the Strait of Hormuz suggests a decoupling of energy security from Iranian geopolitical leverage. If global markets successfully implement alternative transit routes, Iran's primary tool for exerting pressure on the international community regarding sanctions or diplomatic disputes may be neutralized, shifting the balance of power in the Persian Gulf.
