The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that any country, except the U.S. and Israel, can pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Actually, the key is not the Iranian government but the Revolutionary Guard (right now, the Revolutionary Guard holds the military and national security discourse power in Iran). The IRGC is the force that actually controls naval operations in the strait (speedboats, drones, missiles, etc.). They are now using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage. This approach of 'allowing non-hostile countries to pass while blocking enemies and their allies' reflects Iran's pragmatic hardline strategy: pressuring the U.S./Israel and their allies while not completely antagonizing countries like China and India (it’s clear now that Chinese and Indian ships can indeed pass through the strait). It’s also a tactic to create divisions. Here are a few questions: 1) If attacks continue sporadically, most commercial ships and oil tankers will still be afraid to pass, leading to concerns over uncertainty; 2) If more countries start negotiating with Iran to obtain passage permits, does this indirectly mean the U.S. will completely lose its discourse power over the Strait of Hormuz? Can Trump and the U.S. accept this situation? 3) Or is it that Trump’s tough stance is starting to take effect, and Iran is beginning to soften its approach? This post is sponsored by @bitget_zh, 'Bitget: Trade U.S. Stocks Instantly, Smooth Transactions.'