US military assessors have concluded that compelling Iran to maintain open shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz would require a substantial and costly deployment of American ground troops and naval assets.
The assessment highlights the operational difficulty of securing the strategic waterway through force alone, despite months of pressure from the White House.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly sought to force Iran to keep the strait open, employing a mix of air strikes, naval blockades, and severe rhetoric.
However, these measures have not succeeded in altering Tehran's stance.
The new military analysis suggests that achieving the desired outcome would demand a level of resource commitment that presents a significant strategic dilemma for the administration.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical artery for global energy flows, with a significant portion of the world's oil and gas passing through the narrow passage.