Can the US Really Blockade Iran Everywhere?

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It is exceedingly rare for any nation to declare a blockade on another nation everywhere on Earth—yet if any seagoing power can do it, it is probably the US Navy.

The US military is enforcing a blockade on Iran. However, that blockade is not limited to the Middle East—it applies to all ships moving to and from Iranian ports. Indeed, the blockade is global, multi-domain, and strategically expansive, speaking to the US Navy’s capabilities as a true blue-water force. 

Understanding the US Blockade of Iran

The ongoing blockade is not a total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but a port and coastline blockade specifically. Enforcement areas include Iranian territorial waters and international waters alike. The targets are Iranian-flagged vessels, like “dark fleet” tankers that are transporting oil in defiance of........

© The National Interest