U.S. economic pressure weakens Iran's leverage in Strait of Hormuz

(Central News Agency, Istanbul, comprehensive foreign news report on the 6th) Reuters quoted analysts and sources as reporting that as the United States launches an unprecedented economic offensive against Iran in an attempt to achieve goals that military power has failed to achieve, Iran's ability to use the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip is weakening, and the situation may be gradually turning against Iran.

After surviving years of sanctions, the Islamic Republic is now facing one of the most severe economic pressures since its founding, according to Iranian insiders and regional sources. The U.S. naval blockade and increased sanctions are reducing Iran's oil exports, limiting Iran's access to foreign currency, and intensifying its economic difficulties.

The action prompted U.S. and regional officials to speculate that growing economic pressure could force Iran to allow ships to pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran analyst Arash Azizi pointed out that "the balance of power has tilted slightly against Iran." Iran is unable to completely close the Strait of Hormuz and is losing some of its original pressure chips. The US naval blockade "really hits Iran."

Ajizi said that the Iranian government originally expected that disrupting the Strait of Hormuz would have a major impact on the global economy and force Washington to return to the negotiating table, but "this did not actually happen." Other countries have found ways to respond, demonstrating Iran's limited ability to inflict economic shock in the region and beyond.

Three senior Iranian sources acknowledged that Washington's pressure is making it increasingly difficult for Iran to resist. The latest measures have sharply restricted Iran's ability to obtain foreign currency, import goods and tap global financing channels that have helped keep its economy afloat in the past.

For some U.S., Israeli and regional officials, these economic woes have heightened expectations that economic pressure will eventually have political effects in Iran, such as stirring up unrest, exacerbating divisions within the leadership, and weakening the Iranian regime's ability to control.

But some doubt that economic and military pressure can truly shake the Iranian regime, given that decades of attempts to destabilize the country have failed and the government has a history of suppressing opposition.