Strait of Hormuz Security Falters Amid Iran's Advanced Military Capabilities

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping route used by roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply. However, recent tensions between Iran and Western powers have raised concerns about its security.

A similar effort to protect energy shipping in the Red Sea, which started years earlier, cost billions of dollars and ultimately failed against Yemen's Houthis. The experience serves as a cautionary tale for the more complex Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has far more advanced military forces than the Houthis.

'Defending convoy operations in the Strait of Hormuz is significantly more challenging than in the Red Sea,' said retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery.