Iran has backed away from its recent threat to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a passageway in the Middle East through which a third of the world’s oil travels. Under immense pressure from the international community over its nuclear program, one expert thinks that Iran may have bluffed a bit too hard, noting its backpedaling as evidence. “It’s changing its strategy after realizing that its ill-timed and exaggerated threat to close the Strait of Hormuz in case of sanctions caused more damage to its stance and position than anyone else,” said Meir Javedanfar, Iran analyst and co-author of The Nuclear Sphinx of Tehran. On Sunday, the U.S. moved its aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln, a long, steel vessel that may as well have had “BLUFF CALLED!” emblazoned on its deck, through the strait.
