Fareed Zakaria: Strait of Hormuz Becomes Iran’s New “Strategic Lever”

DID Press: Indian-American journalist and analyst Fareed Zakaria has stated that recent regional developments have significantly strengthened Iran’s geopolitical standing, transforming the Strait of Hormuz into a key instrument in regional power dynamics.

While Western focus over past years has centered primarily on curbing Iran’s nuclear program, signs now indicate a shift in strategic calculations across the region. Zakaria notes that U.S. and Israel policies, contrary to their stated goals, have inadvertently expanded Iran’s influence in regional affairs.

According to him, one of the most significant outcomes of this trend is the elevated importance of the Strait of Hormuz in power equations. This vital passage, through which a substantial portion of global energy supplies flows, holds the potential to create wide-reaching effects on the global economy if its status changes.

Zakaria emphasizes that Iran is now positioned to use this critical route as an effective geopolitical leverage.

He adds that this development not only opens new economic opportunities for Iran but also enhances Tehran’s bargaining power on the international stage.

Furthermore, Zakaria observes that the Iranian nuclear file is no longer the sole determinant in global calculations; attention is increasingly shifting to other components of Iran’s power, including its geographic position and its role in ensuring energy security.

Based on this analysis, Iran has emerged as a player capable of influencing major regional—and even global—trends. Experts suggest this marks a gradual shift in the “playing field,” moving from an exclusive focus on nuclear issues toward broader geopolitical and economic competition.