FLASH
Shkruar nga Claudio Paudice
Caves, bays and tunnels carved into the rock hide Tehran's arsenal: radars, underwater drones and fast attack units. The regime has turned coastal morphology into the cornerstone of its asymmetric military strategy, infuriating Trump and shaking the global economy.
The Strait of Hormuz is so narrow and so packed with traffic that it was once said that you could cross it by jumping from one ship's deck to another without getting wet. But since February 28, that's no longer possible.
Following a wide-ranging attack launched by the United States and Israel, Iran has blocked the only sea entrance to the Persian Gulf, cutting off a fifth of the oil and liquefied gas that circulates in world trade every day.
Ships loaded with crude oil or empty wait on either side of the entrance, not daring to pass. The strait is deserted. Insurance premiums have increased by up to 20 times, making the passage not only dangerous but also economically impossible.
However, some ships manage to escape the blockade: over the past three days, 15 ships have passed through unharmed, while before the war the daily average was 100-135. According to Lloyd's List Intelligence calculations, between March 1 and 15, only 90 ships, including Iranian ones, passed through.
Although the strait is about 33 kilometers wide, navigation takes place in designated corridors only 4 kilometers wide, separated by a buffer zone. On each side there are additional lanes for medium-sized ships, while the rest is used only by smaller vessels.
In practice, the traffic has always been concentrated in the central area. But most of the ships that have recently broken the blockade, with the tacit approval of Tehran, have followed an unusual route: close to the Iranian coast, between the island of Larak and the Persian Gulf giant, Qeshm.
Lloyd's List notes that Iran has created a "safe corridor" for ships to pass near its coast. Some analysts believe this diversion is because Tehran has mined the central part of the strait.
Trump, despite claiming to have destroyed the enemy fleet, appears unsure. Not even the US Navy dares to enter Hormuz alone. The allies did not respond to Trump's call for a joint mission.
The Europeans immediately backed down. Hormuz is a natural trap where even a large fleet would not guarantee neutralization of the Iranian threat. But also because the IRGC controls the strait from the natural position of Qeshm and the surrounding mountains.
The Pasdaran naval base south of the island is filled with small attack craft. The merchant ships that are allowed to pass sail under direct Iranian surveillance, just a few kilometers from the coast, in a narrow five-mile channel.
This passage is a clear demonstration of Tehran's control, a checkpoint where the cargo, destination and ownership of the ship are checked. In case of tensions, any ship would find itself under crossfire from the surrounding hills.
Leaving the central segment empty and forcing it to pass under the Iranian coast is a clear message: Tehran can lay mines whenever it wants, without impeding its own commercial traffic.
The United States and Israel are focusing their attention on this point, from where Tehran has taken control of the strait. The White House has stated that the US military still has "an ace up its sleeve" to counter Iranian threats.
The IDF has attacked the area for the first time, in coordination with CENTCOM. US forces have used 2.5-ton penetrating shells against Iranian missile positions along the coast near Hormuz, as anti-ship missiles posed a threat to international shipping.
Qeshm, often called “Iran’s endless aircraft carrier,” is known for its natural beauty: the canyons of the Valley of Stars, salt caves, and deep tunnels carved into the rock. But this natural treasure has been transformed into a military bastion.
In March 2021, the Revolutionary Guards declared it the “last underground missile city,” showing off large stockpiles of anti-ship and Fajr missiles in its tunnels. The IRGC has set up training centers, smuggled weapons and goods, and trained foreign forces.
Today, the island is home to missile batteries, aerial and underwater drones, radars, and fast attack vehicles. The underground facilities are protected by five layers of concrete and soil, difficult to neutralize even with heavy bombing.
For this reason, the US military uses powerful penetrating shells. Tehran knows that it cannot match the naval power of its rivals, so it has made coastal morphology the foundation of its asymmetric strategy.
Missiles can be disguised as civilian trucks and small boats can quickly disappear from radar. With an estimated 3,000 small boats capable of immediate attacks and drone launch sites scattered along the coast, the threat remains constant.
The secret of Qeshm is this hidden arsenal, a “missile city” designed for a single purpose: control of the Strait of Hormuz. And today, Tehran is using this power to keep world trade under control. / Pamphlet from “Huffington Post Italia”
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