The U.S. military’s strikes on Iranian coastal missile facilities continue to escalate, and the contest for control over the Strait of Hormuz is rapidly spilling over into a crisis affecting global energy and security.
On Tuesday, March 17 the U.S. military carried out airstrikes on multiple “hardened” missile facilities along Iran’s southern coast, deploying several 5,000-pound deep-penetration bombs focused on underground targets. The Hill cited U.S. Central Command as saying that the bases, which host anti-ship cruise missiles, pose a real threat to international shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, making them a priority target for destruction.
The operation used the GBU-72 advanced bunker-buster, a high-intensity weapon introduced in recent years, specifically designed to strike shelters and underground structures. The U.S. defined its use as a necessary measure to ensure the security of critical maritime channels.
Strait nearly blocked, global oil prices surge
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments, but with the conflict escalating, Iran has deployed mines, missile threats, and drone harassment, effectively placing the waterway under a “semi-blockade.”
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei previously stated that Iran would respond to U.S.-Israeli joint airstrikes, initiated on Feb. 28, by blocking the strait. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the strait remains “open to outsiders, but closed to enemies.”
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The energy market reacted swiftly. U.S. gasoline prices rose from $2.90 per gallon before the conflict to about $3.80. Although Saudi Arabia and the UAE have partial bypass pipelines, the International Energy Agency noted that most oil exports remain heavily reliant on the strait.
To alleviate supply shocks, the IEA announced it would release 400 million barrels from strategic petroleum reserves—the largest in history—but analysts generally view this as only a short-term buffer.
Allied hesitation sparks frustration; Washington applies pressure
As military operations continue, divisions among the U.S. and its allies have emerged. The Daily Mail reported that the UK, France, Japan, and Australia have all declined U.S. requests to jointly escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly expressed dissatisfaction, calling these allies “unwilling to get involved,” and added that the U.S. “neither needs nor desires” NATO assistance, signaling potential adjustments to relations with the alliance.
Congress also echoed concerns. Senator Lindsey Graham warned European countries that continued refusal to participate could have “broad and far-reaching” consequences for alliance relations.
Meanwhile, the UAE indicated it might join the U.S.-led escort operations, revealing emerging divisions within the Middle East.
Despite U.S. claims of successful strikes, the situation remains precarious. The U.S. Navy still cannot guarantee safe passage for oil tankers through the strait. The Pentagon has dispatched additional forces, including the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and roughly 2,000 Marines, capable of seizing key ports.
Observers speculate that the U.S. may consider limited ground operations to break the current stalemate. Trump, in public statements, simultaneously suggested the conflict “could end soon” while emphasizing that the U.S. is prepared for a long-term engagement.
On the diplomatic front, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has placed global embassies on high alert and activated emergency response protocols.
