The president added that he has “instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
The president added that he has “instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas.”
It’s the sort of move that might look like a clever reversal, but ultimately has a very steep price tag.
A blockade is an act of war, and this one is clearly pointed at the rest of the world, not Iran. It’s predicated on the same faulty assumption that Trump’s administration made when invading Iran: our military is unanswerable, and they will take it lying down.
Escalation paths from this are all bad-- what if an EU ship ignores challenges from a US Navy vessel, or China sends a military escort with a shipping fleet? Are we really about to start another shooting war, or will we stand there with our dicks in our hands as they sail by?
I’m thinking this brilliant idea is abandoned in a week.
It’s brilliant as in it’s probably the most likely route to WWIII.
Maybe they want that? Would make more sense
I wish I share your confidence.
It will take a week to conceive of and announce something stupider and more self-destructive.
If they were even somewhat smart, they’d be blocking just Iranian shipping.
Still less dumb and less war crimes than bombing civilian infrastructure
If they were even somewhat smart, we wouldn’t be there and isntreal would be cut off from all trade globally or states doing businesses with them would be sanctioned, like USA is doing with Cuba.