What to Know About the US Blockade of Iran’s Ports: Explainer

Frustrated by Iran’s unwillingness to give up its stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, US President Donald Trump is trying to force the issue. The US military announced that it had imposed a full blockageof Iran’s southern coastline, including traffic from there through the Strait of Hormuz, as of April 13.

The narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the wider world has become a flashpoint since the US and Israel began strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran tightened its grip on the corridor in response, all but closing off a vital thoroughfare and threatening economies far beyond ...