How will Strait of Hormuz be opened?

August 14, 2026

-Abhishek Vij

US President Donald Trump has fought a terrible war with Iran to prevent it from developing a nuclear bomb. Despite halfhearted attempts at a ceasefire, the sword of war still hangs over the heads of the Gulf countries. Strangely, the war that began between the US and Israel to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb has now become focused on opening the Strait of Hormuz.

Remember, before the war, the Strait of Hormuz was open, and supplies were flowing uninterrupted. However, the war that began in late February has changed the situation countless times. Currently, Iran has issued a clear warning to the US that the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened until the US agrees to its conditions. The US blockade on Iranian ports remains in place. Iran wants the US to lift the blockade, compensate for war damage, lift economic sanctions, and release Iran’s seized assets.

Meanwhile, Trump has also stated in a new statement that Iran is demanding compensation from them; compensation should be paid to the US by Iran. The Iran-US tension is a longstanding one. This tension has arisen during the tenure of almost every president. Now, Trump is demanding that Iran compensate the US for the economic losses it has suffered due to public protests over the past 50 years. It should be recalled that the US had previously blamed the Gulf countries for Iran’s losses in the war.

The US argued that the US had established US bases in the Gulf countries for their security, and that this war was also fought for their security. It was thought that the supply of oil and gas would continue through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, but now Houthi rebels have taken up arms there. The Houthis launched a missile attack on a Saudi Arabian ship passing through the Red Sea, killing four people, including three Pakistanis and an Indonesian citizen. Iran, on the other hand, is not ready to bow down. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that why should we bow down to America, we have presented Iran to the world as a tough power that will not bow down. Where is the scope for dialogue now?

According to recent news, Iran has opted for a compromise with Oman, as ships must transit the Gulf of Oman after the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Iran says Oman has agreed to allow ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz under its supervision. This will only happen if the US agrees. However, the US does not want to make this issue a matter for the Gulf countries and global supply. The US also wants to seize the tariffs earned from ships traveling through this route, so it has needlessly deployed its military forces in the Strait of Hormuz to counter Iran. What about the difficulties faced by a country like India, which imports 85 percent of its oil and gas through the Strait of Hormuz? The situation is becoming more and more complicated for India due to supply disruptions. Only if God grants these countries wisdom, stops their mutual bullying, and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, can a solution be found.