Iran is unlikely to abandon the “Hormuz Card.” Having continued its attacks until the Strait was effectively closed and the United States reimposed a siege on Iranian ports, Tehran now faces the question of how much strategic value that card still holds. During negotiations, Iran sought to demonstrate that its resilience in war had exposed the limits of American power. Yet the resumption of hostilities has confronted Tehran with a different reality: its endurance may prolong the conflict beyond what it can sustain, particularly as divisions deepen within the regime between competing factions, with the Supreme Leader–Revolutionary Guard alliance gaining the upper hand.
