An adviser to Iran's supreme leader has compared control of the Strait of Hormuz to possessing an atomic bomb, calling it a powerful strategic asset capable of influencing the global economy. Mohammad Mokhber said Iran had previously neglected its advantageous position along the crucial shipping route.

The strait, a key passage for global oil and gas shipments, was shut by Tehran early in the recent Middle East war, disrupting markets and leaving hundreds of vessels stranded. Mokhber described control over the waterway as an opportunity that allows Iran to impact the global economy with a single decision.

He pledged that Iran would not forfeit what he described as gains from the conflict and said the country would seek to change the legal regime governing the strait, through international law if possible and unilaterally if necessary. Shipping reports indicate that Iran has established an authority to oversee transit through the strait and potentially collect tolls.