The Strait of Hormuz Showdown: A Pattern of Escalation in the Gulf The latest round of airstrikes by the United States against Iran's military targets has sent shockwaves across the globe, raising concerns about a broader conflict in the Gulf and disruptions to one of the world's most critical energy corridors.
Beneath this escalating crisis lies a more nuanced pattern: repeated use of force as a means of negotiating leverage.
For months, the Strait of Hormuz has been a powder keg, with attacks on commercial vessels by Iranian forces and retaliatory strikes by the US military.