Rebeccah Heinrichs examines why the United States is striking deeper into southern Iran. She also discusses the strategic importance of Chabahar, Bandar Abbas, and Iran’s southern transport network. She unpacks whether the attacks are focused solely on weakening Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, or signal a broader US military strategy.
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Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka during the G20 Leaders' Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, on November 22, 2025. (Getty Images)