Kuala Lampur, May 10 -- The world may still view the conflict in West Asia through the traditional lens of missiles, drones and air strikes.

Yet Iran's most important strategic weapon today may not be military hardware at all. It is leverage.

And Tehran is increasing that leverage in ways the global economy can no longer ignore.

The Strait of Hormuz has become the central instrument through which Iran is transforming geography into political influence.

Roughly one-fifth of global oil and substantial liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass through this narrow maritime artery.

Iran understands a simple but powerful reality: it does not need to defeat the United States militarily to create strategic pressure worldwide.

It only nee...