IRGC's most dangerous tunnels: Is Qeshm island Iran's ultimate Trump card in the Hormuz shutdown?

Once a tourist haven, Qeshm Island has transformed into a frontline fortress in the escalating U.S.–Israel confrontation with Iran, with analysts calling it a strategic anchor in the battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Beneath its dramatic terrain lies a vast underground “missile city” operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, housing anti-ship weapons and drones. As tensions rise and shipping is targeted, the island’s position allows Tehran to threaten a vital global oil artery, amplifying fears of prolonged disruption, surging energy prices, and a widening regional conflict.