The Global Story - Is the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s trump card?
Download Is the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s trump card?
The United States began implementing a blockade of all ships entering and exiting Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. President Trump took to social media and warned that any Iranian ships trying to approach the blockade would be “immediately ELIMINATED.”
The blockade and escalating threats come after weeks of Iran being in control of one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
And over the weekend, delegates from the US and Iran failed to reach a resolution after 21 hours of peace talks.
The Trump administration has repeatedly insisted it’s winning the war, but so has the government in Tehran, which believes it is negotiating from a position of power.
To help us understand why - and what Iran wants - Tristan and Asma are joined by Parham Ghobadi from the BBC Persian Service.
Producers: Cat Farnsworth, Xandra Ellin and Aron Keller
Sound engineer: Travis Evans
Executive producer: Richard Fenton Smith
Senior news editor: China Collins
Published on Tuesday, 14th April 2026.
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