Interesting reporting, but deceiving. The 4-15 data is reported today, 4-30, This Al Jazeera article creates the mirage that Iranian ships are slipping through the blockade; but that is when the blockade was forming up. Note the below story from the WSJ indicating the actual facts of 4-30; Iran is stuck. Who will challenge Al Jazeera’s reporting with this? “Tracking the shadow fleet: How Iran evaded the US naval blockade in Hormuz,” Al Jazeera, 4-30-26.
“Iran Is Grasping for a Solution to an American Blockade It Can’t Break,” WSJ, 4-30-26. For those “experts” who said that a blockade outside of the strait wouldn’t work, remember them. Here’s what today’s WSJ says–“For almost five decades, Iran’s Islamic government has survived financial pressure from the U.S. by selling oil to China. It confronted American military might with guerrilla tactics. But with the U.S. Navy’s blockade, that strategy might have met its match, analysts said. Tehran thought it was gaining the upper hand after the war started in February as it attacked ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz, shutting down commercial traffic and blocking a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Six weeks into the conflict, the U.S. responded by blockading shipments from all Iranian ports. That shut down Iran’s network of shadow ships, which for years defied U.S. sanctions on Iran’s substantial oil exports by going dark at sea before clandestinely transferring their cargoes to China. The tankers have been unable to breach a cordon of U.S. warships that have chased them all the way to the Indian Ocean. … This past weekend, Tehran presented regional mediators with an offer to stop its attacks in the strait in exchange for a full end to the war, a lifting of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and postponement of nuclear talks. Trump on Monday told aides to prepare for an extended blockade that could remain in place until Iran accedes to his nuclear demands. “The blockade is genius, OK, the blockade has been 100% foolproof,” he told reporters later this week. Some 44 commercial vessels working for Iran have been ordered to turn around or return to port, U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, said Thursday. There is no evidence any Iranian oil cargo has crossed the U.S. blockade and reached Chinese customers or other buyers, according to Kpler, a commodities-data company. … Iran is betting America will crack first and end its blockade of Iranian ports to calm global markets and bring down American gasoline prices. U.S. officials are betting that Iran will instead relent because of the deepening economic crisis. The war has imposed a heavy cost on Iran’s economy, with more than a million people out of work, soaring food prices and a prolonged internet shutdown that has slammed online businesses. Its crisis-hit economy is now facing the risk of collapse. The value of Iran’s currency has more than halved since a year ago, and the U.S. dollar’s exchange rate recently surged to 1.81 million rials as the blockade showed no sign of ending.”
During the ceasefire. “Iran is accelerating efforts to dig out missiles and munitions,” NBC, 4-30-26.
“Israel and UAE forge major defense cooperation amid Iran war – report,” i24, 4-30-26. “Jerusalem deployed the Iron Beam laser, a Spectro drone detection system, and an Iron Dome to Abu Dhabi as Iran fired 2,500 projectiles at the gulf state. … Iran fired more than 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones at the UAE during the conflict, with the vast majority intercepted as the Gulf state deployed multiple air defense systems, including Israeli-made equipment. Israel also shared significant real-time intelligence on short-range missile launch preparations in western Iran aimed at the UAE. … The deployments represent one of the first major defense cooperation efforts between the two states, which did not establish formal diplomatic relations until the 2020 Abraham Accords brokered by US President Donald Trump. … A regional official described the deployment as a display of “the value of being Israel’s friend.” Abu Dhabi has since made clear it intends to deepen its ties with both the US and Israel while criticizing Arab and Muslim institutions for what it views as an inadequate response to Iran’s aggression.”
“Israel and UAE forge major defense cooperation amid Iran war – report,” i24, 4-30-26. Jerusalem deployed the Iron Beam laser, a Spectro drone detection system, and an Iron Dome to Abu Dhabi as Iran fired 2,500 projectiles at the gulf state, according to a Financial Times report.