The U.S. Marine Corps is preparing for potential operations to secure maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) continues to assert control over key islands in the region. The Pentagon has deployed the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) to the Middle East, positioning approximately 2,200 Marines and a contingent of F-35B fighter jets to address the escalating tensions.
The IRGC’s strategy centers on controlling access to the Strait, a critical waterway for global oil transport, through a layered “area denial” approach. Key islands, including Larak, Qeshm and Abu Musa, have been fortified and are used to monitor and potentially disrupt shipping traffic. At its narrowest point, the Strait is just 39 kilometers wide, funneling vessels into two shipping lanes each approximately two miles across, making them vulnerable.
According to maritime tracking data cited by CNN, a U.S. Navy warship carrying Marines recently transited the Malacca Strait off Singapore and is now reportedly nearing the Strait of Hormuz. The deployment is part of a broader initiative dubbed “Peace Through Strength,” intended to provide President Trump with options for responding to potential disruptions.
Reopening the Strait in a conflict scenario would likely fall to the U.S. Marine Corps, requiring ground and coastal operations to dislodge the IRGC from its fortified positions. The waterway handles nearly 20% of the world’s oil flow, making its security paramount to global economic stability. The IRGC’s actions are seen as an attempt to exert economic pressure by controlling this vital chokepoint.
The United States is assessing plans that could involve securing maritime passage safety, though specific details of potential operations remain undisclosed. Several nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Japan, have indicated a willingness to contribute to efforts to maintain open access to the Strait of Hormuz.
The USS Tripoli (LHA 7) is accompanying the 31st MEU, bringing additional capabilities to the region. The deployment is intended to demonstrate a commitment to regional security and deter further escalation by the IRGC. The situation remains fluid, with no immediate indication of a planned military intervention.
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