Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz; Oil Prices Plunge 11%

Did Iran's military strategy force a U.S. retreat or did Trump's pressure campaign deliver a decisive victory?

Published 6 hours ago·Updated 4 hours ago

Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz; Oil Prices Plunge 11%

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Above: Abbas Araghchi during the 17th edition of the Al-Jazeera Forum in Doha on Feb. 7, 2026. Image credit: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-Iran narrative

Iran's reopening of the Strait proves Tehran's military and diplomatic strategy worked — 100 waves of retaliatory strikes forced Washington to accept Iran's 10-point ceasefire proposal. The U.S. had to pressure Israel into compliance after Iran threatened to walk away from Islamabad talks. This is a clear win for Iranian sovereignty against relentless U.S.-Israeli aggression.

PressTV

Pro-Trump narrative

Oil prices plunging by more than 10% after the Strait of Hormuz reopened tells the whole story — Trump won this standoff decisively. Iran and China both took massive economic hits from the blockade, and the pressure campaign worked exactly as intended. The Strait is open for business, and that's a direct result of Trump's strategy paying off.

Eric Daugherty on X

Anti-Trump narrative

In this round, Iran clearly emerged with the upper hand. It showed it can threaten the Strait and close it until its interests are met, resisting U.S. pressure. The key lesson is that Tehran retains significant leverage and will use it again if challenged. Strategically, Iran reaffirmed its central message: it sets the terms in this arena and will not accept any directives imposed by external powers. Trump must take note or risk future deals.

Danny Citrinowicz on X

Anti-Iran narrative

The Strait is reopened after being kept closed for 11 additional days, ostensibly in support of Hezbollah. That decision speaks volumes. A vital global waterway was leveraged despite lacking clear legal authority, not for domestic welfare, regional stability, or adherence to international norms, but in alignment with a militant proxy. It reinforces the perception of priorities shaped less by governance and more by strategic allegiance to non-state actors.

Aimen Dean on X