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President Trump’s decision to resume and escalate the war in Iran makes even less sense than his decision four and a half months ago to start the war in the first place. More jarring still, Trump announced on Monday that he would also take control of the Strait of Hormuz and charge a 20 percent toll to all ships passing through—which, besides defying credulity, blows to bits the tiny shred of moral claim that he had held against Iran’s government.

On Tuesday, just hours later, Trump walked back his demand for a toll—perhaps he was advised that it could double global shipping costs (if it could be enforced)—but supplied no details on how the U.S. would take control of the waterway. Nonetheless, both declarations, as well as the backpedaling, amplify what has been loud and clear for some time—that Trump makes major decisions off the cuff, often with no discussion of their implications, and that nothing he says should be taken seriously.

The war with Iran has been back on for a while now. The ceasefire, signed on June 17, was always shaky and collapsed entirely three weeks later, on July 6, when, in response to Iranian attacks on merchant ships, U.S. forces attacked 80 Iranian military targets, including more than 60 small boats manned by the Revolutionary Guard, and, the next day, struck 90 more targets, including air defense systems, missile and drone storage sites, and supply lines along Iran’s coast.

Then, on Tuesday, Trump restored the naval blockade on Iran, which he had lifted as part of last month’s ceasefire.

A statement issued by Central Command claimed the purpose of all this was to “degrade” Iran’s ability to attack commercial ships in the strait and various installations inside allied countries in the region.

But “degrade” is one of........

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