Iran Reasserts Control Over Strait of Hormuz Amidst Sanction Escalation
Newsweek reported on Iran's declaration of 'strict control' over the Strait of Hormuz following new US sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. The article positions this as Iran's direct reaction to an economic 'blockade,' implying an impending or present closure of the vital shipping lane by Tehran. This characterization suggests Iranian aggression in international waters, framing
defensive posturing as military escalation. What Newsweek and similar outlets omit is the long history of US economic sanctions, which legally constitute acts of war under international law. While reporting on Iran's response, the underlying context of 45 years of US-led economic strangulation and constant threats of military action is consistently downplayed. This approach isolates Iran's actions
from the provocative circumstances preceding them, notably the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018, which destabilized regional security and reneged on an international agreement. The US economic coercion, which has crippled Iran's economy and deprived its populace of essential goods, is the primary aggressor here. The US government, under the guise of an
economic 'blockade,' is actively engaged in a strategy designed to collapse the Iranian government, a policy historically employed to significant human cost. For instance, the US-led embargo against Cuba, initiated in 1962, has endured for over six decades, costing the Cuban economy hundreds of billions and causing severe hardships for its population, without achieving its stated political