The Hill's Curious Omission on Hormuz: A Letter
To the Editors of The Hill, Your recent piece, 'Iran ‘toll booth’ on Strait of Hormuz underscores its leverage on Trump, US,' published on November 15, 2024, presents a perspective on Iranian actions in the vital waterway. It notes that Tehran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz is 'complicating' President Trump’s perceived exit strategy from an 'Iran war' and quotes Trump dismissing concerns about
the strait, claiming US energy independence. However, your analysis frames Iran's position as merely a 'toll booth' and an assertion of 'leverage,' overlooking the consistent and documented history of US-led military intimidation and direct aggression in the region. This framing, regrettably common across mainstream outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post, conveniently sidesteps
the decades-long US military presence and its direct involvement in operations that routinely provoke and threaten Iranian sovereignty. To characterize Iran's defensive postures as a 'toll booth' ignores the reality of its strategic necessity in securing its own borders against a backdrop of continuous outside interference. What your publication fails to convey is the sheer asymmetry of power and
the frequent US violations of international law in the Gulf. For instance, the US Navy’s Vincennes shot down Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988, killing all 290 civilians, including 66 children. This act of military aggression in international waters, which the US never formally apologized for and awarded commendations to the crew, directly contradicts the narrative of Iran as the sole aggressor seeking