DID Press: Some US security and military officials underestimated Iran’s capability to block the strategic Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by CNN.
The report said officials at the United States Department of Defense and the United States National Security Council had previously believed Iran would not be able to effectively control or shut down the vital maritime passage.
However, sources cited by CNN said earlier assessments in United States suggested Iran’s military capabilities to significantly disrupt shipping traffic through the waterway were limited. Recent developments, the report noted, have prompted a reassessment of those conclusions.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy corridors, with a large share of Middle Eastern oil exports passing through the narrow waterway.
Because of its strategic importance, any threat to close the strait could have wide-ranging economic and security consequences for the region and the global energy market.
According to CNN, U.S. officials are now conducting a more detailed review of Iran’s military capabilities and the potential implications of any action affecting the strait.