So let me get this right:
The Iranians mine much of the Strait of Hormuz, and then allow certain ships through (friendly and/or willing to pay);
The Tangerine Tyrant claims this is 'closing' the Strait (it isn't);
Pakistan mediated 'peace talks' fail because JD Vance refuses to budge - not negotiation, just demands for surrender;
Now, the US says it will close the Strait - the very thing it accused Iran of doing?
Thereby deepening the crisis the attacks on Iran caused.
@ChrisMayLA6
> Now, the US says it will close the Strait
As negotiations in Islamabad about sharing the toll failed Trump is trying to set his own toll booth now ;))
@huxley @ChrisMayLA6
> but he can close it
In fact he can not. He likely can seize a European vessel, but he can not do the same with Chinese one. This would be universally recognized casus belli. Europe is not ready to face US-Russian military alliance, yet, though China might have no choice but stop the US from receiving TSMC products from Taiwan. What next? I dunno :)
Though the Armageddon scenario is not likely to be seen:
Unlike the West, China is well prepared to make the retaliation nuclear strike and likely has advanced MDS (anti-missile defense) deployed all over their territory. So far the US' MDSes are guarding mostly military installations and, recently, Trump's properties. Then while US regime is not prepared to lose a city, China can withstand losing a half of population. The US Army brass is well aware of that asymmetry.
Update: in his post orange weirdo confines the seizure to vessels that paid the toll to the Iran. As if the toll were to be paid to Ayatollahs in suitcases full of dollars.
Emeritus Prof Christopher May
ohir
Benoît Jones