The American blockade in the Strait of Hormuz alters the strategic equation in the Iran conflict. It also has the attention of our enemies.

Trump had been reluctant to take such a step for fear of further disrupting the global economy and pushing gasoline prices even higher. But the strait--along with Iran's nuclear ambitions--has become the focal point of the conflict with Iran attempting to exercise control of the vital shipping lane. The United States does the world--grateful or not--a favor by stepping in.

The response from Tehran was instructive if not unintentionally comical. Various accounts indicated that Iranian officials called the blockade illegal and even "piracy." Really? And what has Iran been doing for the past four weeks by preventing safe passage or charging tolls through the strait?

A successful operation would cause significant pain for Iran. Mardo Soghorn of the Middle East Forum reports that the nation accrues about $280 million in daily export revenue and receives about $160 million in imports each day--a total economic impact of $13 billion a month.

Iran's navy at this point consists primarily of smaller speedboats that patrol the strait. Will the regime risk escalation? The Iranians are apparently gambling that they can outlast Trump. Perhaps Xi Jinping--whose nation stands to be deprived of a primary energy source--can help disabuse the mullahs of such notions.

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