Iran doesn’t need a navy to choke the world’s oil lifeline

Key Points:

• Despite US strikes that destroyed much of Iran's conventional navy, Tehran's "mosquito fleet" of thousands of small, fast-attack boats, drones, and coastal missiles continues to disrupt the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping lane.
• These small, agile vessels are difficult to detect and eliminate, enabling Iran to exert significant leverage over global oil markets by making the Strait too dangerous for shipping without fully closing it.
• President Trump acknowledged the destruction of Iran's large naval vessels but downplayed the threat posed by these smaller boats, which have since proven capable of attacking ships and deterring transit through the Strait.
• Iran's dual naval strategy includes a traditional fleet and a shadow force operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, with the latter focused on asymmetric warfare in the narrow Persian Gulf waters.
• Analysts warn that Iran's willingness to absorb heavy military losses without strategic surrender complicates US efforts to find an effective response, as Tehran prioritizes survival over conventional military strength.