{"id":24779,"date":"2026-01-30T22:26:59","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T22:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/?p=24779"},"modified":"2026-01-30T22:49:47","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T22:49:47","slug":"irans-strategic-leverage-lies-in-control-of-key-maritime-chokepoints-expert-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/?p=24779","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s Strategic Leverage Lies in Control of Key Maritime Chokepoints, Expert Says"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"24779\" class=\"elementor elementor-24779\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-218ebec e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"218ebec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b46b39 elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-default elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2b46b39\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"108\" data-end=\"490\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">As tensions between <strong data-start=\"128\" data-end=\"169\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Iran<\/span><\/span><\/strong> and the <strong data-start=\"178\" data-end=\"219\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">United States<\/span><\/span><\/strong> continue to escalate, Tehran\u2019s most powerful deterrent does not lie in a single decisive military strike, but in its ability to apply sustained, calibrated pressure across multiple domains, according to regional security expert <strong data-start=\"448\" data-end=\"489\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Imad Salamey<\/span><\/span><\/strong>.<\/p><p data-start=\"492\" data-end=\"1114\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Speaking on the evolving confrontation, Salamey argued that Iran\u2019s defense doctrine is built around a \u201clayered, deniable pressure campaign,\u201d rather than overt escalation. This approach, he said, combines limited direct action\u2014such as missile and drone launches\u2014with proxy-based operations across <strong data-start=\"788\" data-end=\"829\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Iraq<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, <strong data-start=\"831\" data-end=\"872\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Yemen<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, and <strong data-start=\"878\" data-end=\"919\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769812060894-5utqx\">Lebanon<\/span><\/span><\/strong>. The objective is to keep U.S. forces under constant strain, raise operational costs, and complicate attribution, while avoiding steps that could trigger a full-scale American military response.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fc5a196 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"fc5a196\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/0VLpexOE0rA&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d292a6d elespare-section-title-elespare-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-title-section\" data-id=\"d292a6d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"title-section.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elespare-widget-title-section title-style-2 elespare-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elespare-widget-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elespare-section-title-before\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elespare-section-title\">At the center of Iran\u2019s strategic leverage, however, is geography.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elespare-section-title-after\"><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8882000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8882000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1659\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">Salamey emphasized that Tehran\u2019s most consequential capability lies in its potential to disrupt maritime trade and energy flows, particularly through the <strong data-start=\"1338\" data-end=\"1379\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">Strait of Hormuz<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, one of the world\u2019s most critical oil transit routes. In addition, pressure in the <strong data-start=\"1463\" data-end=\"1504\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">Red Sea<\/span><\/span><\/strong> and the <strong data-start=\"1513\" data-end=\"1554\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">Bab el-Mandeb Strait<\/span><\/span><\/strong>, supported by Iran-aligned Houthi forces, significantly expands the scope of disruption beyond the Gulf.<\/p><p data-start=\"1661\" data-end=\"2237\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">Iran\u2019s military toolkit enables what Salamey described as a \u201cscalable, repeatable, and hard-to-stop\u201d campaign. This includes large numbers of relatively low-cost drones that are difficult to intercept at scale, short- and medium-range missiles and cruise missiles capable of striking military infrastructure, and a range of asymmetric naval assets such as fast attack boats, sea mines, unmanned vessels, and ship seizure operations. Cyber and electronic warfare capabilities, along with allied rocket and mortar fire across the region, further reinforce this layered approach.<\/p><p data-start=\"2239\" data-end=\"2545\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">The strategic value of these capabilities, Salamey noted, lies not in outright victory, but in uncertainty. By threatening oil shipments and commercial shipping lanes, Iran can internationalize the cost of confrontation, placing pressure not only on Washington but also on U.S. partners and global markets.<\/p><blockquote data-start=\"2566\" data-end=\"2731\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\"><p data-start=\"2568\" data-end=\"2731\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">\u201cThe most strategically valuable weapon for Iran is disruption of oil and commercial shipping\u2014because it spreads the cost globally and keeps escalation ambiguous.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p data-start=\"2733\" data-end=\"3036\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\" data-tldrly-ref=\"tldrly-1769813203264-v0oo5\">In this framework, escalation is not binary. It can be dialed up or down, calibrated to signal resolve while maintaining deniability. For Iran, Salamey concludes, control over key maritime chokepoints remains the central pillar of its strategic leverage in an increasingly volatile regional environment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As tensions between Iran and the United States continue to escalate, Tehran\u2019s most powerful deterrent does not lie in a single decisive military strike, but in its ability to apply sustained, calibrated pressure across multiple domains, according to regional security expert Imad Salamey. Speaking on the evolving confrontation, Salamey argued that Iran\u2019s defense doctrine is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24780,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,89,85,83,87],"tags":[126,113,94,122],"class_list":["post-24779","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia","category-lotw","category-me","category-na","category-world","tag-america","tag-iran-2","tag-israel","tag-war"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1280,822,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-300x193.jpg",300,193,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-768x493.jpg",768,493,true],"large":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-1024x658.jpg",1024,658,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1280,822,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1280,822,false],"cvmm-medium":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",300,193,false],"cvmm-medium-plus":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",305,196,false],"cvmm-portrait":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",400,257,false],"cvmm-medium-square":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",600,385,false],"cvmm-large":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1024,658,false],"cvmm-small":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",130,83,false],"bopea_large":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1280,822,false],"bopea_medium":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-1100x706.jpg",1100,706,true],"bopea_layouts":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-680x437.jpg",680,437,true],"bopea_small":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-200x128.jpg",200,128,true],"bopea_large_sload":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-20x13.jpg",20,13,true],"bopea_medium_sload":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-20x13.jpg",20,13,true],"bopea_layouts_sload":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-20x13.jpg",20,13,true],"bopea_small_sload":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-20x13.jpg",20,13,true]},"author_info":{"info":["Ssonko 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rel=\"category\">World<\/a>","tag_info":"World","comment_count":"0","wpmagazine_modules_lite_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"cvmm-medium":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",300,193,false],"cvmm-medium-plus":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",305,196,false],"cvmm-portrait":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",400,257,false],"cvmm-medium-square":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",600,385,false],"cvmm-large":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1024,658,false],"cvmm-small":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",130,83,false],"full":["https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo_2026-01-31_00-54-48.jpg",1280,822,false]},"categories_names":{"84":{"name":"Asia","link":"https:\/\/lexicopress.com\/?cat=84"},"89":{"name":"Leaders 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