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Middle East Shipping ‘Paralyzed’ by Dueling U.S., Iranian Blockades, Analysts Say
U.S. Naval Institute ^ | APRIL 27, 2026 7:01 AM | HEATHER MONGILIO

Posted on 04/28/2026 8:34:49 AM PDT by Retain Mike

The U.S. conducted a right-of-visit, maritime interdiction and boarding of MT Tifani (IMO: 9273337) late Monday, according to a Pentagon post on X. Tifani sails a Botswana flag, while Majestic X sails a false Guyanan flag. The International Maritime Organization considers both ships to be stateless.

On Tuesday, following the Monday interdiction of Tifani, Iran said it fired upon and seized two ships – MV Epaminondas (IMO: 9153862) and MV MSC Francesca (IMO: 9401116). MV Euphoria (IMO: 9235828) was also damaged on Wednesday near Iran, although it is unclear whether Iran also targeted the ship for seizure.

The U.S. has right-to-visit stateless ships under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, although the U.S. has not signed the majority of the document, meaning it is not a party to it.

The Iranians are attempting to match the U.S. seizure for seizure, Chris Newton, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, told USNI News on Thursday. Iran has not yet responded to the U.S. seizure of Majestic X.

Using the fast craft, which have not been seen in the conflict until now, indicates that Iran is escalating to match the U.S. seizures, Emma Salisbury, a senior fellow at Foreign Policy Research Institute, told USNI News on Thursday. The presence on the IGCN fast attack adds another layer of danger for commercial ships, on top of the potential of mines and projectiles.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.usni.org ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: hormuz; iran; irgc; navy; straitofhormuz; waronterror

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The charts and pictures are helpful.
1 posted on 04/28/2026 8:34:49 AM PDT by Retain Mike
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To: Retain Mike

It’s better that it’s happening now than after Iran has nuclear tipped ballistic missiles. They would certainly shut the strait down for every negotiation after that. They’d reverse the trade isolation and being shut out of the world’s economy. Send us money, or else. They’d be North Korea on steroids.

On the other hand, people will be suffering NOW and would rather put it off until some indeterminant future. Even though the suffering is likely to be much worse in an Iran nuclear armed future.

One of the huge impacts that I haven’t seen discussed is the drop in fertilizer production. This could easily cause starvation in some of the smaller countries. On the other hand, after this every country should start storing more oil and probably building nuclear reactors. Solar and wind farms are great for Green bragging rights, but when you need to heat or cool a whole population, they fall short.


2 posted on 04/28/2026 8:46:41 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Oh, gosh! I said that out loud. I'm so sorry.)
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To: Retain Mike

One thing about this war that is certainly positive os that it has convinced our idiotic European “allies” that they need to be energy independant, and that the sun and the wind are not always there.


3 posted on 04/28/2026 8:49:18 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( Neocons in love with the Ukraine War hate how long the Iran War is taking..........)
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To: Gen.Blather

Time to take out Iran’s refineries..especially the towers that process the crude oil.


4 posted on 04/28/2026 8:51:15 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: Retain Mike

I’d venture it’s the

not as yet found ( not even 1 , much less a ship hitting one)

( apparently )fictional mines

that’s at the bottom of the straight being closed.


5 posted on 04/28/2026 8:54:12 AM PDT by cuz1961
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To: Gen.Blather

Don’t most of those countries have “natural” fertilizers? AKA dung?


6 posted on 04/28/2026 8:54:57 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: Gen.Blather

Fertilizer is huge. One of the earlier USNI article I posted listed all the products that come from the Persian Gulf. I might find time to dig it up for you.


7 posted on 04/28/2026 9:21:44 AM PDT by Retain Mike ( Sat Cong)
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To: Gen.Blather
Your longer-term assessment is absolutely correct. It was not a good thing for the average citizen in any WWII Allied nation to have to refocus their lives and their nation on stopping the Axis - but it was the right and the necessary thing to do. Life has a way of dumping things in our path that are not pleasant. How we deal with those things decides our future.
8 posted on 04/28/2026 9:37:24 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: wildcard_redneck

A lot of Euro countries (esp. Germany)are sitting on mountains of coal. The UK ran on coal until they found oil in the North Sea. Time to start diggin’ Euros.


9 posted on 04/28/2026 9:45:13 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: Retain Mike

The US Navy has two “stateless” tankers, allegedly Iranian, that could move oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

I would imagine the Iranians would not be keen to sink their own tankers.

I would imagine Iranian fishermen would not like to see their catch coated with oil from a sunken ship.

One tanker was shown by CNN as it was allegedly transferring oil to another tanker.

This tanker was said to be able to carry 1.7 million barrels.

The two tankers could be used to transport UAE oil out of the Gulf. Kuwaiti oil could be sent to UAE by other tankers, either for UAE domestic use or for further transport by one of the two US Navy tankers.

The mere idea might send oil prices downward, saving American drivers money.


10 posted on 04/28/2026 9:58:58 AM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & rebate ~$600 to each insured vehicle owner)
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To: Retain Mike

“fast craft”

Aren’t those the things Trump has had the military sink in the Caribbean?


11 posted on 04/28/2026 10:01:34 AM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & rebate ~$600 to each insured vehicle owner)
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To: Gen.Blather

“fertilizer”

What might be spread on lawns could be used to produce food.


12 posted on 04/28/2026 10:03:36 AM PDT by Brian Griffin (Ask your Congressman to tax tariff refunds at 100% & rebate ~$600 to each insured vehicle owner)
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To: Gen.Blather

“It’s better that it’s happening now than after Iran has nuclear tipped ballistic missiles.”

So true. Any pundit who can’t see that is sub-par. Our President might describe them as “low-IQ people,” and I’m coming around to his way of thinking.


13 posted on 04/28/2026 10:08:03 AM PDT by ChessExpert (Infidels of the world unite against the evil that is Islam.)
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To: Brian Griffin

“What might be spread on lawns could be used to produce food.”

I suspect you won’t find a lot of lawns in countries that will be short of food without fertilizer. Lawns are pretty much restricted to wealthy countries, especially fertilized lawns.


14 posted on 04/28/2026 10:09:01 AM PDT by Gen.Blather (Oh, gosh! I said that out loud. I'm so sorry.)
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