Prince Turki Al-Faisal recently argued that Iran must act like a conventional nation-state instead of an international revolutionary movement to secure its long-term interests. He warned that Tehran’s use of the Strait of Hormuz as a pressure tool and blackmail against neighbors is a strategic liability that will backfire.
According to the warning, continuing this path will erode Iran’s international credibility, invite foreign coalitions to protect shipping routes, and accelerate investment in alternative trade corridors that permanently reduce the strait’s importance. Prince Turki compared this to Iran’s nuclear program, where coercive brinkmanship led to isolation rather than leverage.
Instead, he suggested Iran should base its foreign policy on international law and established norms. He pointed to China as a model of a state that maintains its ideological identity while operating comfortably within the global order.