A naval noose for Tehran: how the US blockade is changing the global order

The administration in Washington has moved from a strategy of “maximum pressure” to directly physically restricting Iran’s sea lanes, effectively turning the Persian Gulf into a closed zone. While the world watches oil prices with apprehension, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announces a global blockade — a move that leaves Iran with a choice: surrender or economic collapse.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a briefing on the Iran war amid the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 24, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Purchase Licensing Rights

Washington is no longer playing diplomatic half-tones. The latest statements by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth indicate that the United States has chosen the path of irreversible escalation within the framework of the “sea siege” of the Islamic Republic. What began as a series of sanctions packages has turned into a full-scale naval blockade, which is now officially gaining global scale. According to Hegseth, if Tehran does not make concessions, its economy will simply “suffocate under the relentless pressure” of the US fleet ¹This is not just rhetoric; it is a statement of a new reality, where the US 5th Fleet has effectively taken control of every tanker attempting to leave Iranian ports.

The Strait of Hormuz Strangulation: Facts and Figures

Since April 13, 2025, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has entered an active phase of vessel interception. As of the end of April, US forces have already “diverted” or detained 34 vessels attempting to transport Iranian energy or contraband ¹This is a response to Iran's attempts to de facto block the Strait of Hormuz after the start of active hostilities in the region in February 2025. However, the difference in potential is obvious: if Tehran is trying to act using guerrilla warfare methods at sea and through proxies, then the US is deploying a systemic siege.

Hegseth's strategy is based on the principle of "find, capture and destroy" any attempt by Iran to rebuild its military-industrial capacity. The rules of engagement are now described as "bold and precise", aimed at unleashing American power, not containing it. ². Washington is saying bluntly: this fight was never supposed to be fair. US aviation patrols the airspace over Tehran and critical IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) facilities around the clock, demonstrating complete control over the situation. ².

Economic Pike and Internal Breakdown

The effect of the blockade inside Iran itself was catastrophic. By the end of January 2026, anti-government protests had spread to more than 200 cities in the country. ⁴The main reason is the free fall of the rial and record inflation caused by the inability to export oil. Tehran previously used a "shadow fleet" to circumvent sanctions, but the physical blockade of ports has made this scheme unviable.

The situation also remains critical for the global market. Oil prices are hovering at over $100 per barrel. ³To cushion the blow to the global economy, the US temporarily unlocked part of Iran's reserves (about 140 million barrels) in March 2026, but this "respite" ended on April 19. ³Now Washington is demanding that allies and even opponents, including China, completely abandon Iranian oil, threatening secondary sanctions against financial institutions. ⁵.

Geopolitical chess: the position of Ukraine and the world

For Ukraine, this conflict is of critical importance. First, the depletion of Iran's military resources directly affects Tehran's ability to supply kamikaze drones and missiles to Russia. Hegseth clearly articulated that the goal is the complete annihilation of the facilities that produce drones ²Every destroyed Iranian factory means a few hundred Shaheds are lost on the Ukrainian front.

On the other hand, the globalization of blockades is forcing major players like China and India to rethink their supply chains. China and Russia have already blocked a UN Security Council resolution on the safety of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, trying to maintain some leverage. ⁷However, the US operates outside the UN formats, forming coalitions "by force".

Deadlock or new order?

Negotiations are currently underway in Pakistan, where Washington has put forward a tough 15-point plan. The main demands: a complete halt to uranium enrichment, an end to the ballistic missile program, and an end to funding proxy groups across the Middle East. ⁶Tehran, in turn, calls the blockade a “prelude to a full-scale invasion” and threatens military action if the naval siege is not lifted. ⁷.

The situation looks like a classic zugzwang for the Iranian regime. The attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz led to the US closing Iran itself. As Hegseth points out, Iran is like a football team that has written the script for only the first 20 minutes of the game, and now that the real blitz has begun, they don't know which maneuver to choose ²The only question is whether the global economy will withstand such a tough game until the final whistle.