Iran's elite fears losing Strait of Hormuz if Israel joins IMEC project

Iran's ruling elite is showing growing concern over the rapid progress of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) project, according to sources familiar with the matter.The IMEC project would provide a stable trade route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, creating an alternative for global trade and energy transmission.The ambitious plan, first launched in September 2023, has moved ahead more strongly in recent months. A major push for the initiative came after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the broad global understanding that there is an urgent and critical need to create alternative trade routes that are safer and more resilient for the global economy.Sources familiar with the details describe IMEC's progress as a real strategic threat to Iran for several key reasons.First, it offers a practical alternative to the Hormuz route: the corridor provides a full logistical substitute for all goods currently moving through the Strait of…