I think the time has come to revisit a column of mine published Feb. 18, 2026.

Titled "Some Hard Choices For Iran's Ayatollah Theologians," the essay sketched a military operation to attack, seize and, possibly, occupy the Iranian Persian Gulf port of Bandar Abbas.

In mid-February, the Pentagon increased the size and power of U.S. forces in the Indian Ocean but near the Hormuz choke point. Moreover, the Pentagon's capacity to reinforce deployed units within six days told me the U.S. had positioned enough air, sea and ground combat power to quickly seize an Iranian seaport — and hold it.

Bandar Abbas, which dominates the Strait of Hormuz, would be the prime objective. Iran's Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman is a second choice — a poor second choice given its distance from the Strait.

Here's a specific reason to revisit seizing an Iranian port near the Strait: Despite Trump administration warnings that attacks on U.S. military forces would trigger harsh military retaliation, Iranian forces shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter patrolling the Strait of Hormuz.

OK, taking a nip of Iranian territory isn't proportional?

I buy that. As I finished this column, the Pentagon announced CENTCOM had conducted defensive strikes on Iranian air defenses.

But die-hard Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps zealots don't understand proportional.

So here's the overwhelming reason: Armed elements of the Iranian regime remain stuck on stupid. Regime zealots who think they can maintain control of Hormuz and charge tolls need a hard and undeniable object lesson in American capabilities.

Go to the map. Even in an era of drones, robot boats and stealth weapons, if you want to control and secure commercial sea traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz and prevent zealots from launching suicide boat attacks on tankers, Bandar and its immediate surroundings are key terrain.

Every day, super tankers carrying 20% of Planet Earth's daily oil supply pass through Hormuz to global markets. The return flow of empty tankers pass through Hormuz to reach oil export facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Add Iran's Kharg Island terminal to the list.

I hear the squeals and curses now: "Boots on the ground!" Well, Marine and Army boots are in the area. In March, the Pentagon sent a 2,000-soldier 82nd Airborne Division battalion task force to the Persian Gulf. In February, the Pentagon moved the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (2,500 marines) from Okinawa to the Indian Ocean.

In February, I speculated seizing Bandar could provide Iranian dissidents with a safe haven and ultimately a base to topple the regime. Iranian dissidents may not be capable of providing their own security. Gulf Arab states and Europeans can create a Gulf regional peacekeeping force to defend Bandar and keep the straits open until Iranian freedom fighters can form a Free Iranian Army.

Taking Bandar has been a possible Pentagon mission since the late 1980s. Some think a probable mission.

In 1988, historian Joe Balkoski and I co-designed a board wargame titled "LIGHT DIVISION: The Strait of Hormuz." The game simulated a U.S.-led assault on Bandar circa 1988-1990. The force mix included U.S. Marines, an Army Light Division, Army Ranger companies and just possibly intervention by Soviet military forces. Yes, the USSR could show up, saving Tehran — or losing a lot of Russian airborne troopers.

The Cold War wasn't over in 1989. It is now. Weapons and tactical organizations have changed. However, the basic terrain and Bandar's proximity to tanker traffic have not.

(NOTE: On March 19, Julian Spencer-Churchill mentioned Light Division in a RealClearDefense article discussing options for opening the Strait.)

To find out more about Austin Bay and read features by other Creators writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

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