Why US Cannot Control Hormuz Strait, Turns to South Korean Warships

Why can't the mighty United States control the Strait of Hormuz?

As President Donald Trump requests warships from South Korea, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France to help control the Strait of Hormuz, attention is focusing on why the United States—with "the world's strongest military"—cannot control the strait alone.

US Has Only 12 Escort-Capable Warships—Already Deployed Against Iran

The Trump administration initially considered having the US Navy escort oil tankers. However, with hundreds of tankers floating in the Persian Gulf, US Navy warships are vastly insufficient. According to Reuters, the US Navy has only 12 warships capable of escorting tankers, including aircraft carriers, and these are already being used for operations against Iran. Maritime trade analysis firm Lloyd's stated, "Even with US escort ships deployed, only 10% of the usual tanker traffic would be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz."

Response Time Just 2 Minutes—Could Become a 'Kill Box'

Geographic challenges also exist, with sea and land in dangerously close proximity. According to The Guardian, some shipping lanes are only 4.8 to 6.4 kilometers from the Iranian coastline. "Drone and missile flight times are so short that ships would have less than two minutes to respond," The Guardian noted.

The Wall Street Journal reported, citing naval officials, that "the US is holding back from sending warships to this strait" because "Iranian drones and anti-ship missiles could turn this area into a 'kill box.'"

Ground Troops? Iran Could Wage Guerrilla Warfare from the Mountains

One might consider deploying US ground forces to control Iran's coastal areas. However, according to defense publication RealClearDefense, the Iranian coastline requiring occupation—from Qeshm Island in the west to Kuh Mubarak in the south—stretches 150 kilometers. The mountainous terrain would make operations extremely difficult, and the Revolutionary Guard could fire missiles and drones at tankers before retreating into the mountains for guerrilla warfare.

Naval Mines Also Pose Problems—Iran Possesses Acoustic-Activated Mines

Naval mines, often called "sea landmines," present another challenge. Although the Trump administration announced it has eliminated many mine-laying vessels, mines can be deployed from small boats, making it difficult to stop Iranian activities. Once deployed, mines drift underwater, making their exact locations hard to track. Major international media outlets suggest Iran may have deployed around 10 mines in the strait.

A South Korean shipbuilding industry official said, "Mines must be detected by warships equipped with mine-detection radar. No tankers have such detection radar. Mines are difficult to locate after deployment, which could also harm Iran—but it appears a cornered Iran has played the mine card."

The Guardian noted that "Iran also possesses mines called Sadaf-3, which operate using magnetic and acoustic sensors rather than physical contact with vessels."

US Ultimately Requests Help from South Korea, China, Japan, UK, and France—'Operations Could Take Months'

Unable to escort tankers with US forces alone, President Trump has requested warship deployments from South Korea, China, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France.

While the South Korean government has not yet announced its position, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson said, "We are discussing various options with allies and partners to ensure safe navigation of ships in this region."

French President Emmanuel Macron, during a visit to Cyprus on the 9th, said, "Regarding the Strait of Hormuz situation, we are in the process of establishing a defensive escort mission, which must be prepared jointly by European and non-European countries."

The Wall Street Journal analyzed, "Two warships per tanker would be needed, and 12 ships would be required to escort a fleet of 5 to 10 tankers," adding that "shooting down drones will be difficult due to the short distance from launch sites."

Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, noted, "Thousands of soldiers and sailors would need to be mobilized with significant funding," adding that "operations may need to be conducted for several months."