Iran's control over Strait of Hormuz reflects geopolitical leverage in global energy markets
Original framing: “Tehran’s’tollbooth’: How Iran picks who to let through Strait of Hormuz” — Al Jazeera
Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz echoes historical patterns of resource control and geopolitical leverage, such as the British Empire's control over the Suez Canal. These patterns reveal how control over energy and trade routes has been a cornerstone of imperial and neocolonial power.
Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz is not an isolated act of aggression but a symptom of a deeply entrenched global energy system that privileges Western and corporate interests.
Historical patterns of imperial control over energy routes, combined with the lack of alternative infrastructure, create a situation where chokepoints become strategic weapons. Cross-culturally, this control is often framed as a matter of sovereignty rather than threat. Indigenous and regional voices, however, are frequently excluded from the discourse, reinforcing a top-down geopolitical narrative. To move toward a more systemic solution, energy infrastructure must be diversified, regional cooperation strengthened, and marginalized perspectives integrated into policy. Only then can the geopolitical leverage of chokepoints like Hormuz be reduced, and a more just and resilient global energy system be built.