The Strait of Hormuz has long been one of the most dangerous pressure points on Earth — a narrow maritime chokepoint where energy, military power, and geopolitical brinkmanship collide. For decades, Iran treated it as its ultimate deterrent: a place where it could threaten global trade, squeeze oil markets, and remind the world that any war with Tehran would carry worldwide consequences.

Now, that logic is being turned on its head.

As of April 13, the United States has begun enforcing a naval blockade targeting maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, while still allowing vessels headed to non-Iranian destinations to keep transiting through Hormuz.

In practical terms, that means Washington is trying to do two things at once: reopen the waterway for global commerce and isolate Iran economically at the same time. Reuters reported that U.S. Central Command said the restrictions would apply to vessels of any nationality engaged with Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, but would not impede freedom of navigation for ships transiting to non-Iranian ports.