"Iran has discovered a powerful future deterrent that is quite independent of nuclear weapons" [independent of nuclear weapons]
The quote explicitly states that Hormuz closure functions as a deterrent mechanism separate from WMD, demonstrating that conventional chokepoint control alone can achieve strategic leverage.
Reasoning from this article
The article documents that Iran's demonstrated ability to close Hormuz through conventional means (mines, drones, missiles, inflatable boats) has created a durable deterrent without requiring nuclear escalation. This signals a broader structural shift: states controlling critical maritime or land chokepoints can extract strategic concessions through conventional denial rather than nuclear threats. The mechanism applies to any state controlling a vital global commons—the Strait of Malacca, Suez, Taiwan Strait—making chokepoint geography a primary source of asymmetric power.