Up 6% from previous year. “Iran executed at least 1,639 people in 2025, highest amount in decades,” i24, 4-13-26.
“US military threatens to blockade all Iranian ports starting on Monday,” Al Jazeerz, 4-13-26. “Trump said the blockade would target any and all ships trying to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. But CENTCOM is saying this would only target ships going to or from Iranian ports.”
“Iran Counters Looming U.S. Blockade With Warning on Ports,” WSJ, 4-13-26.
There seems to be some misunderstanding about what international law is, and about the way the world works. Hats of to the U.S. for standing up to nuclear proliferation and terrorism and piracy. It is time for Europe to truly stand up to Putin, and for the countries of Asia to stand against China. Europe needs to put the distraction of Pres. Trump aside and to remember that the U.S. and the standard of freedom over the decades and longer are the aim. See “Worst since WWII: Kallas decries breakdown of international law in Middle East and Ukraine,” Politico, 4-13-26. (she forgot to mention the situation in the South China Sea). In addition, the EU’s definition of imminent threat in int’l law regarding pre-emptive self defense doesn’t work if you consider the slowly roasting frog.
“Uranium deadlock: The key gap that derailed US-Iran talks – reports,” i24, 4-13-26. “Washington reportedly proposes a 20-year freeze on enrichment while Tehran returns with five-year counter-offer.”
The U.S. blockade is being set-up just as one of the Pentagon plans was drawn up if Iran was to dictate who passes through. It is textbook naval strategy, especially because there is only one out. What will be interesting is not if Iran sends swarms of small boats (they will be destroyed) but if they send drones and missiles, but there is a plan for those, too. By the way, if you’ve been reading this blog, you know that probably now ten times over the past three weeks I’ve been advocating for such a move, and to use Pres. Jefferson and before him Hugo Grotius as the impetus for action. See “How the U.S. Navy Is Blockading the Strait of Hormuz to Choke Off Iran’s Ports,” NYT, 4-13-26.
“Iran’s army says US plan to blockade Hormuz ‘amounts to piracy’,” Al Jazeera, 4-13-26. Won’t AJ call Iran out for its piracy actions?
“Saudi Arabia has warned Iran might retaliate by closing the Bab al-Mandeb,” WSJ, 4-13-26.
Great article, informative about the Strait and mines. “How the US Navy could blockade Iran’s ports and sweep mines from the Strait of Hormuz,” CNN, 4-13-26.
“U.S. Threat to Blockade Hormuz Sets Up Risky New Showdown,” WSJ, 4-13-26.