[Frumious Bandersnatch]

The tried mining the straits back in '88. After the guided missile frigate "Samuel B. Roberts" was almost sunk, the U.S. responded and in one day pretty much handed Iran's navy back to them on a platter. The final tally was 2 Iranian capital ships, as many as 6 speedboats and 2 (temporarily) wrecked oil platforms. The U.S. lost one Cobra Helicopter which crashed into the sea (no evidence that it was shot down).

I think, in this case, that the worst thing that the Iranians could do would to actually cause some damage to the U.S. In such a case, I seriously doubt that the U.S. would leave much of an offensive capability anywhere along their coastline. They could also occupy some Iranian strongholds and oil platforms. This wouldn't do much for their ability to get cash.

[nuconvert]

Always interesting when an older thread is resurrected.

I didn't mean so much that Iran would necessarily have to do damage to us. But that I think they're willing to sink their own ships to block Hormuz, if necessary.