Q&A: Why hasn't the US military used force to secure the Strait of Hormuz?
Since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in late February, Iran has retaliated by targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively shutting down the narrow channel of water.
It's caused a global fuel crisis, even though some ships are managing to get through the strait. US President Donald Trump has given Iran an ultimatum to fully reopen the waterway to oil and gas shipments, and called on NATO allies to help in the effort.
We asked naval expert Jennifer Parker, who served for 20 years with the Royal Australian Navy, to explain what kind of military force would be required to reopen the strait to commercial shipping and why the US hasn't yet taken this step.
Why is it so hard to prevent attacks on ships?
The geography of the region has a lot to do with this.
Iran clearly dominates the northern part of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. That proximity allows it to use its cheaper weapons such as drones to target ships.
Creating the conditions to make merchant shipping safe—or at least reduce the risk—requires a two-phase campaign.
The first phase is taking out Iran's ability to target ships. There are two ways to do this:
persuade or force Iran to stop attacking ships
destroy Iran's ability to attack ships by taking out its radar facilities, command and control structure and weapons bunkers along the coast.
The Malta-flagged container vessel Safeen Prestige on fire in the Strait of Hormuz on March 18 after being hit by Iranian explosives. Credit: Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, CC BY-SA
President Trump has ordered reinforcements from two naval groups into the Middle East, consisting of around 4,500 marines and dozens of aircraft. Credit: The Conversation, NYT, Al Jazeera, CC BY-SA
The possible types of mines Iran may have laid in the Strait of Hormuz, though there has been no clear evidence mining has occurred. Credit: NYT, CC BY-SA