종전의 문턱에서 벌어지는 기묘한 줄다리기: 호르무즈 해협의 끝나지 않은 전쟁 > 뉴스

According to a recent announcement from the U.S. Central Command, Iran went ahead with its show of force by launching a number of suicide drones to attack merchant ships passing through the strait. Accordingly, the U.S. military responded immediately and mobilized F-16 fighter jets to shoot down all of the drones in question, securing the safety of maritime routes. Iranian media also reported the sound of an explosion near the strait, confirming that the physical conflict between the two sides was real. This is not a simple accident, but a calculated military action by the United States and Iran to check each other's influence. The reason why this battle has not stopped even though peace negotiations have reached the end is because both countries intend to prove who is the real owner of this strategic location even after the agreement.

At the core of this conflict is the stark difference in the two countries' perspectives on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran maintains its position that it will maintain its own independent management authority over the strait regardless of the previous agreement, and has further formalized its policy to impose a de facto toll in the name of a 'service fee' on passing vessels. In fact, Iran is already accelerating its moves to control the strait as if it were its own internal sea, charging millions of dollars in fees to some ships. On the other hand, the United States maintains its position that Hormuz should be returned to an international waterway that guarantees freedom of global trade, and regards Iran's actions as a challenge to the international order. As such, the two sides' plans are in direct conflict, which foreshadows that tensions surrounding the strait will not easily subside even if a peace agreement is concluded.

Meanwhile, the situation is taking a new turn with the news that Iran's supreme leadership has approved the end-of-war agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that this MOU would end the conflict on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and serve as an opportunity to respect each other's sovereignty for the first time in 47 years. Iran regards this agreement as its victory and appears to be seeking to secure political legitimacy both internally and externally. However, even during this process, Iran's unique hard-line attitude is still maintained, such as refusing to export enriched uranium abroad and being wary of Israeli intervention. The United States is also aware of Iran's complex calculations, and is demonstrating strategic flexibility to suppress Iran's unexpected actions by not lowering its military alert even before the agreement.

This battle is not simply a problem between the United States and Iran, but is a significant variable shaking the geopolitical landscape of the entire Middle East. Iran is not hiding that it will use the Strait of Hormuz as a powerful card to put pressure on the United States in the future, and has made its intention clear through a warning statement that "the sword will always hang over the strait." To block these threats from Iran, the United States is strengthening diplomatic solidarity with neighboring countries such as Oman and maintaining a permanent surveillance system to guarantee freedom of navigation. In the end, even if a diplomatic framework such as an end-of-war MOU is established, military tensions on the ground are likely to continue for some time. The international community is being asked to make more advanced strategic decisions to protect the stability of the energy supply chain in this unstable situation of peace.