Bangladesh, Sept. 13 -- Tehran believes the Strait of Hormuz is its strongest weapon in the war. But Washington is steadily raising the price Iran must pay to use it.

Iran has long understood the strategic value of the Strait of Hormuz. What Tehran appears to believe now is that the narrow waterway can do more than disrupt global energy markets: it can become the regime's ultimate instrument of survival.

That is a dangerous gamble-and one that President Donald Trump is making increasingly costly.

Iran claims it struck two American vessels and eight oil tankers in the Gulf this week. The United States has rejected Tehran's claim that Iranian forces hit American warships, while separate reports of merchant vessels being attacked have no...