School of War How Trump’s Blockade of Iran Actually Works with Sal Mercogliano
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Apr 15, 2026 
Sal Mercogliano, a maritime historian and analyst who runs the What’s Going on with Shipping channel, explains how the U.S. distant blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is being executed. He walks through ISR tagging, convoying and boarding options. He discusses deployed naval assets, risks with Iranian mines and shadow fleets, and the diplomatic and economic consequences, including China’s role.
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Distant Blockade Targets Ships Leaving Iranian Ports
- The U.S. blockade is a distant blockade targeting vessels that loaded in Iranian ports rather than a close-in port blockade.
- CENTCOM will tag ships via ISR in the Arabian Sea and order them to turn back, divert, or face boarding once clear of Iran's missile envelope.
Blockade Framed To Fit International Law
- CENTCOM framed the blockade under international law with a Notice to Mariners and humanitarian exceptions to avoid appearing to blockade neutral states.
- The operation reads like a Naval War College exercise, deliberately limiting legal exposure while signalling legitimacy.
Demonstration Transit Cleared Channel And Signalled Presence
- U.S. destroyers ran the Strait to demonstrate transit passage and likely cleared main channels with drones and mine-countermeasure assets.
- The Murphy briefly turned on AIS to visibly signal government presence and reassurance to mariners.