The David Lin Report · Monday, June 29, 2026
Edward Fishman argues that US strategists miscalculated Iran's ability to control the Strait of Hormuz by assuming they would rely on sea mines. Instead, Iran effectively closed the strait using anti-ship missiles and drones, impacting global shipping without significant economic self-harm.
“Everyone knew that the Strait of Hormuz was this essential choke point, that Iran potentially could close it. I think the assumption that proved wrong was that in order to close the Strait of Hormuz, the thought was that Iran would have to use sea mines.”
“I think what analysts uh didn't get right, what they they didn't uh foresee, was that Iran didn't need to use these sea mines. All they had to do in the first week of the war was to literally get on a radio where, you know, they talked to all the ships in the Strait of Hormuz and say, "The Strait of Hormuz is closed. It's not safe to go through."”
“And so, what Iran was able to do was they were able to selectively close the strait. They were able to close the strait for everybody else besides themselves.”