The Trump administration's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has made the waterway one more testing ground in a battle of wills. The question isn't whether Iran or the United States has the more powerful navy, but which country can endure economic pain and military casualties longer'the United States, which has been waging an unpopular war of choice in the Middle East, or the Islamic Republic of Iran, which is fighting for its survival. Since the beginning of the war, Tehran has allowed vessels of its choosing to pay a toll to pass through the strait. In this way, it has been able to continue selling its oil at a high price while also profiting from the tolls. Iran is now demanding that any ship that wants to transit the strait must also deviate from the normal lanes into Iranian waters near Qeshm Island and be inspected by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In its counterblockade, the United States is stipulating that no ship that pays a toll will be allowed through....
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