The U.S. launched the war to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions, but it’s now fighting a formidable foe for control of the oil-shipping lane.The Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only fully operational terminal in the United Arab Emirates located outside the Strait of Hormuz, on Tuesday.AFP via Getty ImagesJuly 16, 2026, 6:00 PM EDTBy Yasmin Vossoughian and Emily NgoWelcome to the daily Inside Scoop newsletter. In early March, President Donald Trump projected that the U.S. war on Iran would last four to five weeks. The conflict is now in its 20th week. Iran has proven to be a far more formidable foe than initially anticipated, and Keir Simmons tells me why the fight is over control of the Strait of Hormuz — not Iran’s nuclear program. Let’s get into it.The Strait of Hormuz is now the focus of the U.S. war against Iran. Tehran’s nuclear ambitions? Less so.Just a moment.We are getting your experience ready.