Iran retains leverage in the Strait of Hormuz and ties with China after six months of war
Six months after US and Israeli strikes on Iran began, Tehran has not undergone regime change and retains leverage in the Strait of Hormuz and oil ties with China. Washington is shifting the conflict to the economic arena, while Gulf economies face uncertainty.
Sources
· 10Рычаги Ирана в Ормузском проливе и нефтяные связи с Китаем определяют следующий этап войны
1Иран консолидирует жёсткое руководство после шести месяцев войны
2Полгода войны с Ираном оставляют арабские страны перед экономической и военной неопределённостью
3Оман посредничает в переговорах о транзите через Ормуз: риск тупика войны на месяцы
4Иран сталкивается с новым давлением США после срыва перемирия
5Минфин США объявит новые санкции против Ирана на фоне рекордного падения риала
6Strait of Hormuz: Wetin go happun if Iran close di global oil corridor as war wit US and Israel continue - BBC News Pidgin
7Iran war: What is the Strait of Hormuz and why does it matter?
8Strait of Hormuz
9How the War in the Middle East Is Affecting Energy, Trade ...
10Key points
- Six months into the US and Israeli war against Iran, analysts see no regime change in Tehran and are preparing for a protracted war.
- Tehran retains leverage in the Strait of Hormuz and critical oil ties with China.
- Iran's leadership has consolidated around a hard core of military generals and clergy and is preparing for a prolonged confrontation with the United States.
Why it matters
About 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Strait of Hormuz per day in 2025, amounting to nearly $600 billion in energy trade annually. In 2023–2025, 20% of global liquefied natural gas and 25% of seaborne oil trade passed through the strait each year. China is the largest buyer of Iranian oil: it is estimated to purchase about 90% of Iran's exported oil. The effective closure of the strait has already caused the largest disruption in the history of the global oil market, according to the International Energy Agency.
Previously
- Oman mediated negotiations on opening a 60-day safe transit corridor after the ceasefire collapsed on June 17.
- The United States ended the months-long ceasefire in July 2026, resuming strikes and reinstating sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
- The Iranian rial fell to a record low of 2.03 million per dollar on Tehran's open market amid preparations for new sanctions.
What's Next
A G20 finance ministers meeting is scheduled for August 31–September 1 in Asheville, where US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent intends to press for further isolation of Iran.
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- Иран консолидирует жёсткое руководство после шести месяцев войныFortune · 2d ago
- Полгода войны с Ираном оставляют арабские страны перед экономической и военной неопределённостьюAl Jazeera English · 3d ago