When I published an article in Al-Seyassah/Arab Times newspaper in 1980, predicting the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, I was not speculating. Rather, the developments at the time pointed in that direction, particularly during the height of the Iran-Iraq War, which created exceptional conditions in the Arabian Gulf and had a significant impact on the global economy. At that time, the Iranian regime was still unstable and suffering from political and economic crises.
Nevertheless, it set major strategic objectives, including the “export of the revolution” and the consideration of the Strait of Hormuz as a domestic rather than an international waterway. As a result, the “Carter Doctrine” was issued in 1980, stating that “the United States will regard any attempt by a foreign power to gain control of the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf region as an attack on its vital interests.”
Today, what I had warned against has materialized. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global supply chains not only for energy but also for food and other essential commodities. This abnormal situation cannot continue. For nearly 84 days, the world has been held hostage by Iranian terrorism. Therefore, the international community, especially major powers, is obligated to bring it to an appropriate end.
Countries such as China and Japan, among others, are now facing an unprecedented crisis, even more severe than the 1973 crisis. What is happening in the globally vital Strait of Hormuz amounts to outright piracy, reminiscent of the Middle Ages. Is the world truly so weak in the face of a rogue state that has been practicing terrorism for 47 years, as if no one can stop it?
Iran’s continued interference not only threatens the Gulf states but also the entire world. The United States acted in its military campaign, with the support of Israel, in June 2025 and again in February 2026. Realistically, the long truce has deviated from its intended course, transforming into a war of attrition that is straining the nerves of the global economy and contributing to multiple crises, which will undoubtedly have significant negative repercussions worldwide, including rising inflation. Prolonging the crisis would give the Iranian regime additional time to rebuild its military strength and revive its regional proxies, ultimately advancing Iran’s expansionist project based on destabilizing other countries, as seen in Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen.
The draft resolution on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz was submitted to the Security Council, where it received 137 votes in favor, securing a comfortable international majority against this rogue state. Why, then, is the world not taking any action against it?
If the threat of a nuclear program is Iran’s way of blackmailing the world, then it seems that the world has come under the mercy of a group of madmen who disregard the international community. Therefore, the international community must work together to dispose of this terrorism; otherwise, the current ongoing miscalculation may encourage other countries to follow a similar path. If this happens, the world will live in a nightmare for decades to come.
Indeed, the threat of nuclear weapons would transform from a deterrent against war into a tool in the hands of some countries to impose their expansionist agendas and dictate their conditions. Is this what the world wants? When I raised concerns about the fate of the Strait of Hormuz in 1980, it was driven by a desire to prevent what is happening today.
