Backed into a corner by Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, Trump may resort to even more reckless escalation

The United States has resumed bombing Iran this week in a bid to control the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly twenty percent of the world's oil and natural gas passes daily. Per The Conversation, Iran is wielding considerable leverage: the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps can threaten commercial shipping with drones and missiles, and insurance companies are refusing to insure transits or charging prohibitive premiums. The risk of escalation is real, with potential strikes on civilian infrastructure—desalination plants, power systems—that could trigger broader regional consequences, and analysts note a small but meaningful risk of tactical nuclear weapons being deployed.

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