Is Iran preparing to fundamentally rewrite the rules of the Strait of Hormuz? While Donald Trump landed in Beijing seeking Chinese help on Iran, Tehran was unveiling something far bigger in the background — a sweeping new Hormuz strategy that could dramatically expand Iranian control over one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints. Iranian officials are now openly talking about turning Hormuz into a zone fully regulated by Tehran’s military, with proposals that could restrict hostile naval access, force foreign vessels to seek Iranian approval, and transform the strait into a source of revenue potentially greater than Iran’s oil exports themselves. At the same time, Iran’s military establishment has issued fresh warnings to Washington, with IRGC-linked figures threatening that the Persian Gulf could become a “blue graveyard” for U.S. forces if escalation continues. And the timing is impossible to ignore. As Trump and Xi Jinping discuss Iran in Beijing, Tehran appears to be moving in the opposite direction — not toward retreat, but toward deeper strategic leverage. Reports suggest Iran believes Chinese backing, combined with global dependence on Hormuz energy routes, gives it an unprecedented opportunity to tighten control over regional shipping and reshape the balance of power in the Gulf. But this story goes beyond shipping lanes. Iran has also floated proposals tied to “reciprocal action” following the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, including plans allegedly targeting Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and CENTCOM-linked officials. The rhetoric is escalating. The maritime strategy is evolving. And the larger fear is this: is Iran preparing for a future where Hormuz becomes not just a trade route — but a geopolitical weapon? If Tehran succeeds in redefining control over the strait, the consequences would stretch far beyond the Middle East. Oil prices, global shipping, U.S. naval dominance, China’s energy security, and the future of Gulf geopolitics could all be pulled into the same storm.