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At this moment in time, President Donald Trump has control of the Strait of Hormuz. His short-term goal, of course, is to pressure Iran’s leaders to give up their nuclear ambitions. Yet Trump’s blockade is also a major geopolitical hammer on China. For now, oil and petrochemical shipments will flow out of that waterway only under the rules of U.S. Navy. All China can do is watch.
“If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea,” Trump wrote. “It is quick and brutal.”
Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander, United States Central Command, has come up with a brilliant plan to pin down Iran while leaving Gulf states free to resume shipping. “The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman,” U.S. Central Command said.
TRUMP CALLS ON WORLD TO BUILD ‘DELAYED COURAGE,’ SEIZE KEY OIL ROUTE FROM IRAN
Here’s how it works. Are you a legit VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) supertanker coming out of port in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, for example? U.S. Central Command says you are good to go. Remember to contact and monitor naval forces on VHF Channel 16 for bridge-to-bridge communications.
On the other hand, if you are a ship that’s picked up a cargo in Iran, you are in big trouble. Aircraft and ships of U.S. Central Command have vessels under constant surveillance. Yes, it’s the same clear view seen with the drug boat strikes in the Caribbean. Military maritime moving target indicator systems even have the ability to “rewind” and track ships from where they left port. Don’t forget ships violating the rules can be intercepted in deep water, too. There’s a lot of U.S. Navy in the North Arabian Gulf.
Lloyd’s estimated 500 to 700 vessels are still stuck in the Strait, more if smaller ships under 10,000 deadweight tonnage are included. CENTCOM is taking action to help. On Saturday, the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers USS Frank E. Petersen (DDG-121) and the USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112) sailed north through the Strait, and back to the south again, marking a path free of mines. CENTCOM “will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce,” Cooper said on Monday. Look for a gradual but steady increase in traffic. Shippers have to reconfigure destinations and that takes time.
Meanwhile, no vessel will get near an Iranian port without being seen. Here are some of the systems at work under Central Command’s new rules.
WHY THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ MATTERS AS TRUMP ISSUES FRESH ULTIMATUM TO IRAN
Land-based naval aircraft. High above the Strait, the land-based P-8 Poseidon, and the MQ-4 Triton, a Navy high-altitude drone with a 130-foot wingspan, are forming a continuous maritime picture for Admiral Cooper. Their radars are specially tuned for tracking maritime targets.
E-2D Hawkeye. The large radar dish atop these planes from the USS Abraham Lincoln can track 3,000 air, ground and sea targets at once in a 360-degree field of view. Real-time surveillance is the foundation
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USS Tripoli (LHA-7). The amphibious ship has 2,200 Marines aboard — and its own airwing. You can bet their F-35B fighters, MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, and MH-60 Sierra helicopters are active. The MH-60s can locate and disable mines, and chase after any IRGC small boats behaving foolishly. Of course, Tripoli can also board and seize vessels as needed.
Aegis destroyers. In addition to the two that have already run the Strait, the U.S. Navy has about a dozen Aegis-destroyers in the region. Together they form the world’s best missile defense shield — and pack formidable firepower.
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At this point, there is little Iran can do to overturn Trump’s blockade. Airstrikes have cratered underground anti-ship cruise missile bunkers. The IRGC fast boats will be on a suicide mission if they attempt hit and run attacks. Drone defenses are in place. U.S. aircraft are active during the ceasefire and can respond fast if Iran strikes out.
Trump’s blockade of Iranian ports is a testament to American air and maritime dominance. It’s also a vivid reminder to Xi Jinping of China’s vulnerability. China imports about 11 million barrels of oil per day, and 90% of it moves by sea. Trump’s desired end-state is freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but meanwhile, Trump is showing China that the U.S. Navy can control its single most important oil route at will. That’s a real blow against the China-Russia cabal.
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