American and Iranian forces are enforcing rival maritime orders in the Strait of Hormuz

Beyond the pause lies escalation that could impair Iran’s ability to function without giving Washington control over what follows ( Middle East Monitor ) – For two nights after US Central Command announced a 13th consecutive night of strikes, it issued no announcement of fresh attacks on Iran. Yet coercion continued at sea. American forces said they had redirected 12 commercial vessels attempting to breach the blockade of Iranian ports, disabled two and boarded two. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said warning shots had forced four vessels away from the southern route near Oman. The air campaign paused; the struggle over who writes the operating rules of the Strait of Hormuz did not.