The mere Iranian threats of closing the Strait of Hormuz is causing shipping to turn away from that two mile wide passage along the Iranian coastline.
From Zero Hedge
Two supertankers—Coswisdom Lake and South Loyalty—each capable of carrying 2 million barrels of crude, abruptly altered course in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend after U.S. stealth bomber strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Sure, the US and our allies have a variety of measures that can be taken to keep the Strait open. Here are are few, From Copilot AI:
To ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open—a vital artery for global oil and gas—the U.S. and its allies have several strategic levers they can pull, both military and diplomatic:
Naval Presence and Escort Operations The U.S. Fifth Fleet, based in Bahrain, already patrols the region. Increasing naval escorts for commercial vessels, as was done during the 1980s "Tanker War," could deter Iranian interference. Some shipping companies have already begun pausing transits or placing vessels on standby due to rising tensions.
International Maritime Coalition Reviving or expanding initiatives like the International Maritime Security Construct—which includes the UK, Saudi Arabia, and others—can provide a coordinated response to threats and reassure global markets.
Mine Countermeasures and Surveillance Deploying mine-hunting ships, drones, and surveillance aircraft can help detect and neutralize threats like sea mines or fast-attack boats, which Iran has used in the past.
Cyber and Electronic Warfare Readiness Iran has reportedly begun jamming GPS signals in the strait. Countering these tactics with electronic warfare capabilities and hardened navigation systems is essential to maintaining safe passage.
Diplomatic Pressure and Economic Leverage The U.S. has urged China to pressure Iran, given Beijing’s heavy reliance on oil that transits the strait. Multilateral diplomacy—especially involving Gulf states and Asian oil importers—can amplify the cost of Iranian escalation.
Alternative Export Routes While limited, allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE can reroute some oil via pipelines to bypass the strait. Expanding these capacities could reduce the global impact of a temporary disruption.
Clear Red Lines and Deterrence Messaging U.S. officials have warned that closing the strait would be “economic suicide” for Iran and could trigger a broad international response. Maintaining credible deterrence is key to preventing miscalculation.
The Strait of Hormuz isn’t just a regional flashpoint—it’s a global pressure valve. Keeping it open is as much about showing resolve as it is about building coalitions.
In the case of Iran approving the blockading of the Strait of Hormuz, their mere threat to block it is having the same effect as actually doing it.
Another threat as of this writing is a pending Iranian attack against US bases in the region. If this occurs, I predict the Ayatollah's life will be short and oil production will greatly diminish.
There are two analogies I recently read about Iran’s Islamic-driven propensities and what it takes to change them.
One is the analogy of the use of an antibiotic to eliminate a bacterial infection: If you stop the antibiotic before the infection is eliminated, the infection will grow back stronger.
Another is to a cancer: If chemo is stopped too soon, the cancer will spread.
Israel's continuing actions along with the US use of the MOPs on nuke sites were the initial doses of antibiotic/chemo. The deeper infections/cancers still drive Iran’s fundamentalist Islamic policy.
The current fundamentalist Islamic regime in Iran is an infection, a cancer on the population. The treatment is far from complete.
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