Iran is rapidly emerging as a new global power, and the military conflict in the Middle East is further accelerating this process, according to the American business daily Wall Street Journal.

While the world has so far operated through three main centers of power - the United States, China, and Russia - Iran is now increasingly positioning itself as the fourth global power.

The key source of this strengthening is the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for transporting the world's oil. Control over this strait gives Tehran political and economic weight that far exceeds regional boundaries.

The problem is not only the volume of energy resources passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but also the stability of supplies. Any threat to disrupt this flow causes a rise in insurance costs, higher transportation prices, and nervousness in global markets.

How much the balance of power has shifted is also shown by the fact that French President Emmanuel Macron has already acknowledged that opening the Strait of Hormuz by force is not a realistic solution. The question of navigation through this strategic route can only be resolved in cooperation with Iran, which practically means Tehran gains the status of a power that must be negotiated with.