तपन कुमार

  STRANGLE THE SEA LANES: HOW IRAN'S HORMUZ GAMBIT EXPOSES THE PLAYBOOK INDIA CAN'T IGNORE When the world obsesses over aircraft carriers and billion-dollar weapons systems, the Strait of Hormuz delivers a brutal reminder: geography is the ultimate weapon. By holding influence over this narrow maritime artery—through which nearly one-fifth of global oil supply flows—Iran has shown how a nation with limited conventional power can punch far above its weight and rattle global markets. This is not just a regional tactic; it is a strategic blueprint. Every tanker that passes through Hormuz carries not just oil, but vulnerability. Tehran doesn’t need to shut the strait completely. The mere threat of disruption—mines, patrol boats, missile batteries—creates panic, spikes insurance costs, and forces superpowers to react. Control the chokepoint, and you control the tempo of global economics. Now shift focus eastward. India sits astride one of the most critical maritime theaters of the 2...