A CNN report Tuesday evening cites multiple US intelligence bodies as assessing that Iran has the capability to close the Strait of Hormuz at any time of its choosing, and that the US military has no means to forcibly reopen the waterway. A senior US official told CNN the assessment amounts to Washington having granted Iran de facto control of the strait, calling it 'a weapon more powerful than any nuclear bomb.' The report follows breaking coverage by The Zioneer, which first flagged a similar assessment at 19:06 based on an analyst channel.
A CNN report Tuesday evening, citing multiple US intelligence bodies, assessed that Iran can shut the Strait of Hormuz 'at will' and that the US military has no capability to reopen the waterway by force. A senior US official told the network: 'We have given Iran de facto control of the straits — a weapon more powerful than any nuclear bomb.'
The assessment, published at 19:43 Jerusalem, provides on-record sourcing for an intelligence finding that The Zioneer first flagged at 19:06 based on an analyst channel. The finding represents a stark escalation in the publicly acknowledged balance of power in the strategic waterway.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's oil passes, has been a focal point of US-Iran tensions for months. Iran has maintained a blockade since May, and recent diplomatic efforts — including a reported framework agreement between Washington and Tehran — have not yet resulted in the strait's reopening. A senior US official had told Fox News on Sunday that the strait would reopen 'with no tolls' under the emerging deal, but Tehran has publicly insisted the strait remains closed to foreign ships.
The CNN assessment underscores the difficulty of reversing Iran's position by military means, even as the Trump administration pursues a diplomatic off-ramp. The finding has not yet been confirmed by the Pentagon or the White House.
4 developments
- ConfirmedUS targets around the Strait of Hormuz exposed to potential threats
- StrongIranian chief of staff claims full control of Strait of Hormuz, threatens shipping
- DevelopingCommentator Goldblatt: double blockade on Strait of Hormuz reflects Iranian strategic exhaustion
- DevelopingIran-linked channels report fresh exchange of fire with US Navy in Strait of Hormuz
Source and signal
- Internal intake