politics
March 13, 2026
Why Trump Didn’t Plan for the Strait of Hormuz
Astonishingly, President Trump and his aides were caught unprepared when Iran, under air assault from the United States and Israel, retaliated by targeting shipping in the Persian Gulf region and specifically through the Strait of Hormuz. Military planners have pointed out for decades that the waterway—through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes—is highly vulnerable to Iranian assault. But the Trump administration acknowledged in classified briefings, CNN reported last night, that it did not make provisions for a closure because officials assumed that such a move would hurt Iran more than the United States.
TL;DR
- President Trump and his aides were unprepared for Iran's retaliation.
- Iran targeted shipping in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz after an air assault from the US and Israel.
- Military planners had warned for decades about the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz.
- The administration did not prepare for a potential closure, assuming it would hurt Iran more.
- The Strait of Hormuz is crucial for global oil and LNG transport.
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