*‘If you think I’m thinking, think again’*
- Don Tzu
209
tonycomputerguy9 hr ago
+31
"There's a time to think, and there's a time to act.
And this is no time to think."
31
Blu3Yeti9 hr ago
+19
"I was elected to lead, not to read."
19
Viperlite7 hr ago
+1
He doesn’t even pick randomly from a set of five plans that are drawn up by so-called trusted advisors.
1
theprimoscientist7 hr ago
+2
"we're going to Toronto - the capital!"
2
Jahaangle7 hr ago
+1
Or my own masterwork, Zapp Brannigan's Big Book of War!
1
Quick-Bad5 hr ago
+1
"If what I think is happening *is* happening... it better not be."
1
YOLOontheGO8 hr ago
Is Don Tzu related to Sun Tzu?
0
StefanCelMijlociu7 hr ago
+4
Don Tzu wish your girlfriend was hot like me?
4
KimJongPotato7 hr ago
[Picture](https://imgur.com/s50lPyX)
0
Bishopjones211210 hr ago
+154
From what understand the states is going to board or seize any tanker found that paid the fee to Iran. So countries in Asia that are starving for fuel to the point of being willing to pay a toll. Those people will know be punished by the United States. The same United States that started this war with Iran. The same United States that removed sanctions on Russian oil leading to the funding of its war with Ukraine. I can’t keep up with this shit.
154
CaptainCanuck9310 hr ago
+83
My question is what happens when a Chinese vessel resists or refuses to stop
The USA has no legal jurisdiction here. If they want to enact violence on innocent third parties let's not mince words about what theyde doing
83
Holiday_West174010 hr ago
+75
Trump will just say he has given exception to China. Then he will add other major countries in the exception list. This will continue till everyone has exception.
75
Informal_Incident_406 hr ago
+7
0 chance he messes with Chinese ships.
7
Lone_Vagrant8 hr ago
+10
Not just Chinese, also Indian and Pakistani. Some Malaysian ships are passing through as well. A lot of SE asian countries buy crude amd refine for export. A lot of those customers will be upset if those tankers that paid the toll or negotiated passage to then be stopped by the US.
10
meechmeechmeecho9 hr ago
+5
As if China would actually be paying the toll in the first place
5
BalrogPoop8 hr ago
+6
They already have been, just not in cash.
6
Autumn_Ridge8 hr ago
+6
Iran takes bitcoin for the toll, which is what I think has been propping it up lately.
6
Acceptable-Lie1885 hr ago
+2
It’s in china’s interest to replace the petrodollar with the petroyuan. So yeah, they not upset about paying.
2
fury4208 hr ago
-12
> The USA has no legal jurisdiction here.
Sure they do, they've established a blockade of Iran's ports as part of a war, which gives them legal jurisdiction to stop vessels moving to/from those ports.
Third party nations are obliged to respect it, attempting to run the blockade is grounds to be captured.
>98 Merchant vessels believed on reasonable grounds to be breaching a blockade may be captured. Merchant vessels which, after prior warning, clearly resist capture may be attacked.
https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/san-remo-manual-1994/article-93-108
-12
FeistyGate87848 hr ago
+10
We never declared war
10
fury4208 hr ago
I know but Congress declaring war is just an American internal political formality, it doesn't change anything.
America has declared a blockade, which is inherently an act of war.
So are all the missiles and bombs, and torpedoing that warship? definitely acts of war.
0
Vanadium2356 hr ago
A blockade may technically be a legal method to wage war, but this entire war is illegal. Attacking another country without any justification or mandate from the United Nations is a clear violation of the UN charter. If anything, other countries are obliged to defend Iran against this aggression. If the PLAN started shooting at US Navy ships near Iran right now, they'd have a better legal basis than the US has for anything it has done in the last 6 weeks.
0
unknownpoltroon9 hr ago
-2
China has a *Casus belli* to take back Taiwan?
-2
ICEpear84727 hr ago
+5
At least they have as much casus belli to blockade Taiwan as the US has to blockade Iran. The US is not the only country which can ignore international law.
5
-ToniCipriani-7 hr ago
+1
They need oil to take Taiwan.🤷🏻♂️
1
socratesque9 hr ago
I was going to ask, in what f****** world? But then I realized...
0
dafunkmunk5 hr ago
+1
Iran will start offering drone e****** services to tankers for an additional $10 million fee and the US will continue to hemorrhage $1 billion a day accomplishing nothing and getting more military equipment destroyed and see more military personnel be killed because trump is having a tantrum
1
edki727710 hr ago
-22
Main reason to impose the blockade is to stop Iran from selling and moving its own oil. Should’ve happened right from the start of this war. Nevertheless, sucks for Asian countries that rely on ME oil.
-22
_ryuujin_9 hr ago
+10
there are other countries besides iran that transport oil through the strait.
10
meechmeechmeecho8 hr ago
-2
The blockade only applies to Iranian ports
-2
HippyHunter710 hr ago
+20
I think your missing the point.
This war should have NEVER happened in the first place
20
sammybeta9 hr ago
+3
I think it's just for America to start their toll infrastructure.
3
No-Bar7089 hr ago
+2
Well the reason it didn't is that Trump is very sensitive to oil prices so he let Iran dump oil onto the market. The reversal of that policy just shows that he has no plan and never had a plan.
2
hawkseye1711 hr ago
+232
Does anyone else think that basing so much of the world economy on the status of one of the most volatile regions on earth is a bad idea?
232
edwardthefirst11 hr ago
+95
think? we try not to
95
MysteriousWhitePowda11 hr ago
+74
Does anyone else think that basing so much of the world economy on the status of one madman who seems to change his mind without reason or logic and doesn’t care that the outcome of his actions could cause world war three is a bad idea?
74
zwang64710 hr ago
+24
One pedophile**
24
faffc26010 hr ago
+14
he can be both, a pedophile madman.
14
ShoulderPossible975910 hr ago
+3
Pedophopilistic madman?
3
hoppertn9 hr ago
+3
One adjudicated rapist**
3
kind_bros_hate_nazis10 hr ago
+9
This region wasn't an impediment at all until Trump and netanyahu got there
9
hoppertn9 hr ago
+9
I mean it’s worked out ok for the past 70 years. Wonder what changed?
9
Alarming-Contract53511 hr ago
+24
Some of us don't even want it to be based on burning fossil fuels, but since when has believing this made any difference.
24
Pure-Drawer-261710 hr ago
+13
…do you think the region is volatile by itself, or maybe the reason it’s volatile is BECAUSE the worlds economy is based around it? Like you may be mixing up cause and effect here
13
hawkseye178 hr ago
+4
This region has been one of the most consistently volatile regions throughout recorded history. Even back in ancient times there was a lot of conflict in the Middle East. Different peoples, different ethnicities, different empires, different religions. It's not unique to any particular group nor any specific resource.
4
BiBoFieTo11 hr ago
+35
The US is going to blockade and add their own tolls to Iran's tolls. Then China is going to make another layer of blockade and their own tolls.
It's the Hormuz Straitipede.
35
beachfrontprod10 hr ago
+6
You can't triple stamp a double stamp.
6
SirBulbasaur138 hr ago
+1
YOU CANT TRIPLE STAMP A DOUBLE STAMP!
1
GaryLifts10 hr ago
+9
US are only targeting ships which stop at Iranians ports, no other ships will be impacted by the blockade.
9
zippazappadoo10 hr ago
+16
What it means is that between the Iranians demanding a toll to pass Hormuz and the US interdicting any ship that pays the toll there will be no ships that can transit the strait without being stopped by either Iran or the US.
16
GaryLifts8 hr ago
+3
Yes - the issue is the toll; it will turn Iran into a regional power house, funding their nuclear program and putting all the other gulf nations at their mercy.
Many countries have already indicated they will not and should not pay it.
This will lead to further escalation but it’s the only area where Iran can be hurt further.
3
SquiffyRae7 hr ago
+2
Compared to the previous de-escalation agreement, the US haven't so much shot themselves in the foot as they have aimed a rocket launcher at a wall six feet in front of them and pressed fire
2
GaryLifts6 hr ago
+1
Agree - it's a terrible position to be in, so their only hope is to force Iran to concede on Nuclear and the Strait; both easier said than done.
1
hackenclaw8 hr ago
+3
if that Ship is China's what they gonna do? blow them up?
3
GaryLifts8 hr ago
+2
They won’t need to - a civil ship is not going to yolo through a naval blockade, that’s prepared to fire warning shots and back up their threats.
China doesn’t want a war with the US either and will look to circumvent in other ways.
2
CCM7216 hr ago
+2
Why wouldn't China send their ships at whatever blockade? We should be much less interested in war with China than they are with us, we've alienated all of our allies who likely would have no interest in providing much support whatsoever whenever we are already threatening to leave NATO and article 5 is written in a vague enough way they aren't really bound to provide any military personnel to assist. They only need provide assistance they "deem necessary", which if I were them considering the BS we just attempted in Hungary I don't think I'd deem very much necessary. Starting a war with China in the horrible geopolitical position this administration has put us in over a boat passing a strait we caused the closure of would be too stupid for historians to comprehend.
2
GaryLifts6 hr ago
+3
China are positioned to come out of this way better than all involved parties - it's simply not worth it to engage the US directly. They have already said multiple times they expect to pass the US economically so there is no need for a war.
3
cre8ivjay4 hr ago
+1
Yolo?
I think you meant, LEEEROY JENNNKINS!!!!!
1
Lokon197 hr ago
+1
In a blockade no ships are going to be going in or out. It’s starving Irans economy with the rest of the world held hostage. It’s going to end up being who can’t take the pain first and cries uncle.
1
GaryLifts7 hr ago
+3
It's a blockade of only ships going to and from Iranian ports; its been confirmed multiple times by US Central Command.
Instead of repeating what the previous person said, maybe Google it.
3
Lokon197 hr ago
+1
If the US is not allowing any Iranian ships to come and go and Iran is not allowing any other ships to come and go that means the strait is effectively blocked. It doesn’t really make any difference.
1
GaryLifts7 hr ago
+3
It makes a difference in legal terms - the US cannot legally block the straight; they can legally block traffic going to Iranian ports in a war, provided they don't discriminate & they don't stop food, humanitarian shipments.
3
Lokon197 hr ago
+3
At this point I really don’t think Trump cares about any of that. International law has never stopped him from doing dumb stuff.
3
Narrow_Track959810 hr ago
+1
Woah woah now, I just learned to say "bingo" instead of "that's a bingo" and now your trying to tell me this is an "old skool Mexican standoff" ?
1
MiddleConnection747910 hr ago
+1
You mean the blockading blockade is at risk of being blockaded by another blockader?
1
Imbendo10 hr ago
+11
There are hundreds of places in the world like this where if war broke out it would majorly affect global markets.
11
drewts8610 hr ago
+15
I don’t what the point is that you’re trying to get at. The reality is that we need oil (and other products from this region like helium and fertilizer) to keep the world running. We’re never going to get around that. And let’s face it, it’s never really been that volatile before. The volatility has less to do with Iran than it does the toddler that is President. Honestly the Iranians are a shining beacon of stability compared to Trump.
15
faffc26010 hr ago
+7
during the iran iraq war the US had to escourt ships through it using 30+ ships for like 14 months. it's been a volatile region for awhile with wars going on both direct and proxy for decades with iran being the leader of one of the factions fighting the proxy wars. maybe we should have forseen this and built transit pipelines and ports focused bypassing a potential powder keg area for decades?
7
AppleTree989 hr ago
+3
When you use the powerful we there I just don't know who that is for? Even in the US we can't agree to build a pipeline. In Russia they had a few but they got bombed. So pipelines are by no means a simple solution. On paper and without people it would be a great idea.
3
faffc2608 hr ago
+1
investors who are interested in economic stability on a mass scale.
1
drewts866 hr ago
+3
1. You’re talking about something that happened 45 years ago. Not exactly relevant to any kind of current timeline.
2. The Iran Iraq War was started by Iraq invading Iran. The instability is hardly Iran’s fault.
3. The targeted attacks on oil tankers was also started by Iraq. Iran responded by doing the same.
Are you suggesting that Iran was supposed to just lay down and get fucked in the ass? Should they have not responded to being attacked? You need to fully flesh out your thoughts before punching them in on your keyboard.
3
ForwardHuckleberry269 hr ago
+1
Pipelines are even easier to bomb than ships. Just ask Nord Stream 1 and 2.
1
Capokid8 hr ago
Couldve just built solar panels.
0
faffc2608 hr ago
+2
oil and petrol and lng are needed for more than just transit and energy generation. they're used in a lot of manufacturing.
2
Capokid8 hr ago
+1
75% of the worlds oil is being burned by vehicles or generators that could easily be electric or powered by renewables instead, only 20% of the worlds oil goes through Hormuz.
1
this_dudeagain8 hr ago
+1
Torturing and murdering thousands of your own citizens doesn't scream stability.
1
jksyousux8 hr ago
+6
Both of those things can be true at the same time. Think North Korea. Stable government but also not the best to their citizens
6
Tronn300010 hr ago
+8
It was pretty chill like 6 weeks ago before all this happened and I don't think it would be like this right now if the US didn't attack Iran
8
hawkseye178 hr ago
+1
I wouldn't exactly call it chill. There was still conflict in the region, just not specifically affecting the Straight of Hormuz
1
imaginary_num6er10 hr ago
+2
At what point are countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE going to have regime change due to not having any exports in their export economy?
2
Ixziga10 hr ago
+3
It's almost like there was a national defense component to pushing green every
3
ariveyd9 hr ago
+3
A war between China and Taiwan if it ever happens will paralyse the entire IT infrastructure across the globe. So having 20-30% of supply cut is not that bad, in comparison Taiwan produces ~90% of advanced chips.
3
hawkseye178 hr ago
I don't understand why nobody else seems to have thought of getting into the business of that.
0
overcooked_biscuit5 hr ago
+1
Has anyone stopped and thought about what took place in the past for the region to be so volitile in the first place?
If oil was discovered in any other region outside of North America or Europe in the early 1900s, it would be the same story of external influence f****** over the oil producing countess. Which in turn, would have resulted in an unstable geopolitical region.
1
Jalapenoplanter10 hr ago
+1
North America?
1
tapwater869 hr ago
+1
Yeah. We should move all the oil that’s underground somewhere more stable.
1
IZ38209 hr ago
+1
It's like real-life Dune.
1
Drak_is_Right8 hr ago
+1
Its a lot less than it ised to be.
Used to be like 40% of oil and gas.
1
GorgeWashington10 hr ago
+1
if only we could harness the power of the Sun somehow.
1
elon_musks_cat9 hr ago
+3
That’s ridiculous. What’s next? Getting power from the wind?
3
redyellowblue503110 hr ago
+1
This has been known for decades and isn’t surprising.
Buuuuuuut, we let oil companies continue to convince us their product (despite several wars and conflicts showing how risky it was to keep relying on it) was the only way to power the world so here we are.
Maybe this time we’ll learn?
1
Krulman9 hr ago
-2
Surprising that no one thought to spend a few billion on a few pipelines to capitalize on this in case it ever happened. Yet more surprising again that no one's started one yet.
Pipelines are very efficient and inexpensive in the scheme of this, it wouldn't be hard.
-2
hawkseye178 hr ago
+3
Pipelines can still be attacked by drones and missiles.
3
Krulman6 hr ago
+1
That explains that
1
T_Shurt12 hr ago
+25
From the article:
SINGAPORE, April 13 (Reuters) - Oil tankers are steering clear of the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a U.S. blockade later on Monday following failed peace talks between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend, shipping data showed.
Trump said on Sunday the U.S. Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardising a fragile two-week ceasefire.
U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces would begin implementing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.
It would be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman," it said in a statement on X.
U.S. forces would not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports, and additional information would be provided to commercial mariners through a formal notice prior to the start of the blockade, it said.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that any military vessels attempting to approach the Strait of Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire and be dealt with harshly and decisively.
25
Alarming-Contract53511 hr ago
+21
How exactly does he plan to enforce this? If they say they aren't going to Iran, he let's the through, then they can go to Iran? If there's a US ally ship going to Iran, he blows them up?
The most likely explanation is that there's not need for a plan, because he won't do it.
21
Codex_Dev11 hr ago
+12
If they see the ship dock at Iran ports, it will be detained when it tries to leave the Strait. They can monitor this quite easily with satellites
12
zippazappadoo10 hr ago
+3
Ok but what about 2 tankers, one goes to port and fills up with oil, the other sits in the gulf. Tanker 1 sails up to tanker 2, transfers their oil to tanker 2 and then tanker 2 exits the strait without ever going to port?
3
OperationClear58810 hr ago
+7
That can easily be tracked lol a refueling at sea usually takes a few hours so I’m sure it’d be pretty questionable by whoever is monitoring the satellite feed as to why these two specific ships, one which just came from an Iranian port, are side by side for a few hours in the middle of the straight
7
HippyHunter710 hr ago
+3
So this is worth millions but not healthcare.
Gotcha.
3
Wyn69 hr ago
+3
Correction. Billions.
3
jamie991011 hr ago
+15
1) like a non fly zone simply threatening to use force is enough to deter 99 % of vessels. There’s not many shipping companies that are going to risk losing a ship to test Trump’s resolve (potentially billions in losses).
2) a naval blockade can quickly turn into a shooting match. Iran will almost certainly respond with force to the naval blockade, that can pop off at any moment. Massive tanker ships will be sitting ducks when Iran starts shooting.
15
PulledOverAgain11 hr ago
+7
On number 1 here. I think this has come into play already where it might not even necessarily be the shipping company themselves, but the insurance companies saying they don't cover losses
7
[deleted]11 hr ago
+1
[removed]
1
[deleted]10 hr ago
+2
[deleted]
2
branflake77710 hr ago
+3
I'm not sure what you're asking, as you've got a double-negative. If you're asking why would a ship be in/out of the Persian Gulf if not picking up from Iran, there are several other countries in the Gulf to pick up from. (Kuwait, Iraq, etc...)
3
T_Shurt10 hr ago
+1
Don’t worry, he’s got “[concepts of a plan](https://wegotthiscovered.com/politics/i-have-concepts-of-a-plan-these-side-splitting-memes-are-going-to-make-donald-trump-wish-hed-never-debated-kamala-harris/)”. 🤡
1
HalJordan252510 hr ago
+14
The fact the Trump is creating a blockade because of Iran’s blockade (any blockade boosts the price of oil) reminds of that Michael meme from The Office:“You know what? I’m going to blockade even harder!”
14
ScrotumScrapings11 hr ago
+45
So this “superpower” has been reduced to the tactics, and ethics, of Somalian pirates now.
45
meechmeechmeecho8 hr ago
+11
Blockades have been used by superpowers for centuries
11
virtual_adam11 hr ago
+15
If a single $10,000 drone can collapse the world economy (all it takes is for one tanker to burn for the rest to nope out of there)
Then yeah why not
Every tiny group that can get their hands on a drone can immediately become a superpower. the new reality goes way beyond Iran
15
Falconman217 hr ago
+2
It’s not that cut and dry. A fully motivated US could probably have the straight open relatively quickly, the issue is absolutely no one wants anything to do with this because of how we started it.
The level of resources and number of bodies necessary to get a handle on the situation would mean full scale riots in the US. It’s not palatable, they know it, and why they didn’t back off after like a week of strikes is beyond me.
2
rubywpnmaster11 hr ago
+3
extortion has always been the way of the world. You were just used to the anomaly.
3
ScrotumScrapings3 hr ago
+1
No it hasn’t. There are plenty of examples of it, but it’s hardly the norm
1
PyroGamer6667 hr ago
+2
It's more civilized than nuclear weapons.
2
ScrotumScrapings3 hr ago
+1
Weapons which have only been used by one nation on earth. Twice.
1
Obvious_Toe_300611 hr ago
The Pirates Of Pissants
0
it_diedinhermouth11 hr ago
+20
Make America go away
Please. We have had enough. Let us just live our own lives without aggression
20
Dense_Substance763511 hr ago
+12
Krasnov will make sure Russia gets $140 a barrel no matter what it takes.
12
imperial1s10 hr ago
+2
if you are going to block it, we're going to do it better! A bigger blockade! The biggest of all time. No blockade has ever been better. Amurica!
2
planetarybum9 hr ago
+2
Trump got it wrong or is exaggerating. It is not a total blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,”
According to CENTCOM it's a blockade of ships travelling to and from Iranian ports.
*(CENTCOM) forces will begin implementing a blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports on April 13 at 10 a.m. ET, in accordance with the President’s proclamation.*
*The blockade will be enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.*
*CENTCOM forces will not impede freedom of navigation for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports.*
2
Substantial_Milk817010 hr ago
+3
Those captains took one look at the news and collectively hit the reverse gear. Absolutely nobody gets paid enough to steer a literal floating bomb into an active blockade.
3
NoVax-Djocovid9 hr ago
+2
Bingo. There mere threat of this should be enough to stop any traffic.
2
KnottShore10 hr ago
+4
The Iranians will now ask their Houthi friends to block the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. Could definitely be a 'gate of tears' for Trump.
4
Loni0910 hr ago
Well, then he'll just order a blockade of that as well! Checkmate.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
0
faithOver8 hr ago
+4
So is the US literally trying to start a world war at this point?
Obviously they know the level of punishment this will have across the globe.
4
dbandit17 hr ago
+4
Anything to cancel the midterms
4
dragon1500z11 hr ago
+4
'Hey you cant block it! Cuz now I'M the one blocking it' lol
4
LazyBoyD10 hr ago
I’m stupid. Someone clue me in on how exactly the U.S. plans to blockade the strait for ships headed to/from Iranian ports while allowing all others to pass? Aren’t there underwater mines scattered throughout the waterway? Can’t Iran just say “f*** it and fire missiles at all ships passing through? Theres still alot of risk in transiting the straight—would insurers continue to refuse insuring oil tankers? So many questions.
0
s_nz9 hr ago
+4
There are two different blockades.
Iran's. Be from a country on their friendly list, Send them $2m, and they will provide a safe route map (clear of mines) for you to sail, and promise not to shoot at you (route goes close to their coast, so anybody who hasn't paid and is just following a leaked route map can be shot at).
USA's. Once passing Iran's blockade, just prove you are not sailing from Iran, and they will let you pass. (previously the USA blockade was going to be total, so they would not let anybody pass, but they seem to have relaxed on this point)
4
Alert-Algae-66749 hr ago
-4
That’s why US has sent ships to the Strait of Hormuz to de-mine it.
Iranian drones and missiles can still be fired and they probably will be if non-Iran aligned ships try to cross. US ships will provide more interception power and more ability to strike Iran’s weapons facilities so it depends on how many missiles and drones Iran still has in their arsenal to still carry out their threat.
I think this was a good move by US military and one of the best choices they could have made in this scenario. Strait will still not be completely safe but it will make Iran exhaust their weapons quicker.
If Iran eventually runs low on drones and missiles they will lose their Hormuz leverage, and with the US still blockading their ports it means they may eventually need to negotiate with US with America as the side with leverage. But it is confusing to me why they didn’t do this earlier and waited more than a month to move their warships into the Persian Gulf
If they lose Hormuz, Iran’s final threat is to probably shoot whatever they have left at the Gulf States to create as much destruction to their oil and gas infrastructure as possible, which will probably cause lasting economic damages and high gas prices for years. Unlike Strait of Hormuz which can be unblocked
-4
Dark_World_Blues4 hr ago
+1
If the GCC countries and many other countries can't use the strait, then Iran shouldn't use it.
I salute Trump's decision. These are international waters, either all civilian ships use it for free or no one uses it.
133 Comments