US military threats escalate Strait of Hormuz tensions amid Iran war: systemic drivers of resource control and regional instability

Indigenous and coastal communities in the Gulf region have historically relied on the Strait of Hormuz for subsistence fishing, trade, and cultural practices, yet their knowledge of the strait’s ecological and navigational rhythms is excluded from geopolitical analyses. Their displacement due to militarization and oil infrastructure (e.g., UAE’s artificial islands, Saudi oil terminals) is framed as collateral damage rather than a systemic violation of territorial and cultural rights. Traditional ecological knowledge of seasonal currents and fish migrations could inform alternative, non-militarized security models for the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz has been a flashpoint since the 1950s, when the CIA orchestrated the 1953 coup in Iran to secure Western control over Iranian oil, setting a precedent for US intervention in the region. The 1980s 'Tanker War' during the Iran-Iraq conflict demonstrated how chokepoints become battlegrounds when global powers prioritize oil transit over regional stability. The current crisis mirrors Cold War proxy conflicts, where resource control (oil, gas) is weaponized to maintain US hegemony in the face of rising multipolar challenges (China, Russia, Iran).

In the Global South, the Strait of Hormuz is often framed through the lens of anti-imperialism, with Iran’s rhetoric resonating with postcolonial struggles in Algeria, Iraq, and Venezuela, where resource sovereignty is tied to national identity. Gulf Arab states, despite their alignment with the US, face internal tensions between ruling elites dependent on Western security guarantees and populations skeptical of foreign military presence. The narrative of 'opening the strait' is perceived as a euphemism for reasserting Western dominance, echoing historical patterns of resource extraction under colonialism.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical node in global oil transit, handling ~20% of the world’s seaborne oil, making it a systemic risk for energy security. Military threats increase the likelihood of accidental escalation, as demonstrated by past incidents (e.g., 2019 tanker attacks, 2021 drone strikes). Climate change exacerbates regional instability by intensifying water scarcity and food insecurity, which could further radicalize populations and fuel conflict. Scientific consensus warns that fossil fuel dependence, not military control, is the root cause of geopolitical fragility in the Gulf.

The strait is mythologized in Persian poetry (e.g., Hafez, Rumi) as a metaphor for divine unity and human interconnectedness, contrasting with the militarized framing of control. Gulf Arab oral traditions recount the strait as a site of both bounty and peril, reflecting the duality of life in a region where oil wealth and conflict coexist. Artistic movements in Iran and the Arab world often depict the strait as a symbol of resistance against foreign domination, using visual and literary metaphors to critique US hegemony.

Scenario modelling suggests that continued militarization of the strait could trigger a regional war involving Iran, Israel, and Gulf states, with catastrophic economic and environmental consequences. Alternative futures include a Gulf-wide renewable energy transition, reducing dependence on oil transit and enabling de-escalation. Regional security frameworks (e.g., Iran’s proposed 'Hormuz Peace Initiative') could replace US military dominance, but require dismantling sanctions and fostering economic interdependence. Climate-induced water shortages may force Gulf states to prioritize cooperation over conflict.

Marginalized voices include Iranian civilians suffering under sanctions, Gulf state labor migrants (e.g., South Asian workers in UAE/Saudi Arabia) trapped in exploitative labor systems tied to oil infrastructure, and Baloch communities in Iran/Pakistan facing state repression for advocating autonomy. Women in the region, often sidelined in geopolitical discourse, bear disproportionate burdens of war (e.g., healthcare collapse, displacement) while their roles in peacebuilding are ignored. Indigenous groups like the Ahwazi Arabs in Iran’s Khuzestan province, whose lands are rich in oil, are systematically excluded from decision-making on resource control.