The conflict between the United States and Iran has turned into a “highly determined war for control of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Mehran Kamrava, professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar.
“Iran is fully aware that it cannot confront the United States and Israel militarily. Therefore, it is trying to transform the conflict from a military confrontation into an economic one,” Kamrava said, adding that “in some respects, it has succeeded in doing so.”
“Iran is determined to maintain the Strait of Hormuz as a source of leverage,” Kamrava told CNN’s Will Ripley.
“Iran wants to establish a form of administrative influence, while the Americans are determined to undermine that influence.”
The United States has claimed that its strikes are aimed at reducing Iran’s ability to attack ships navigating through this strategically vital waterway.
“Everything now revolves around the Strait of Hormuz,” Kamrava said.
