US Rhetoric on Hormuz Designed to Influence Oil Markets, Analysts Say

US claims about the southern route of the Strait of Hormuz are part of a broader effort to shape perceptions and influence global oil markets, according to analysts Sakina Datoo and Syed Mohsin Abbas.

They argue that Washington's rhetoric is designed to sway oil markets rather than address the actual issues on the ground. This manipulation aims to serve powerful economic interests rather than ordinary consumers, as was seen in past global crises where officials sought collective solutions to prevent wider economic damage.

Abbas notes that Iran retains effective control of the waterway, pointing out the limits of the US Navy's ability to prevent Iranian oil shipments or challenge Iranian forces without risking escalation. He maintains that Washington's blockade rhetoric is primarily aimed at sustaining confidence in oil markets, while actual Iranian oil exports continue through routes the US cannot fully control.

Datoo describes the claims about the southern route as psychological warfare designed to manipulate markets, contrasting it with past global crises where officials sought collective solutions to prevent wider economic damage.