By the United States military's estimation, about 1,550 marine vessels'oil tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and more'are idling in the Persian Gulf right now. With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blockaded, their crews, many of them uninvolved in the ongoing war with Iran, are slowly using up supplies as they await safe passage through the mine-filled waterway. Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the U.S. would rescue these 'victims of circumstance' by guiding them out of the war zone in an as-yet-unspecified way. On Monday, though, Iran's military rejected the plan, warning that American military forces would be attacked if they approached the strait. Both sides fired shots yesterday, although the U.S. claims that the cease-fire remains in place. The fact that Iran's leaders are apparently willing to risk violating the delicate monthlong truce emphasizes just how fiercely they want to protect their hold over the strait. The past 65 days of war have badly punished Iran:...
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