Iran's waterway control seen as new deterrence tool

A New York Times analysis, shared by the IRGC Cyber Corps, posits that Iran's strategic power now lies in its ability to control vital waterways. The report argues that Iran's capacity to 'close or disrupt the flow of energy' through the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Strait has a much faster and more destructive effect on Western economies than the threat of a nuclear weapon. This capability is framed as a new tool of deterrence that could allow Iran to emerge from the current conflict with a strengthened strategic position, regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program. The analysis underscores the shifting nature of geopolitical leverage in the region.