# United States and Israel are bombing Iran {for current/ongoing events, past/future have specific threads} **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump, iran-strikes-2026\ **Created:** [February 28, 2026, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071 "2026-02-28T07:56:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/906 "2026-03-18T04:18:01Z")
(Quote below is from the ISW) > [@Babale](#): > > Anti-regime media also published footage on March 12 that shows a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet engaging targets with its auto cannon at extremely low altitude in Chabahar, Sistan and Baluchistan Province, which is on the Iranian coast on the Gulf of Oman. This suggests that US forces have at least local air dominance along certain segments of the coast, which would enable US aircraft to engage drones and anti-ship cruise missiles at low altitudes to protect shipping if ordered to do so. How are US fighter jets going to “protect shipping” when Iran reportedly has liberally salted the Strait of Hormuz with mines? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/907 "2026-03-18T04:33:20Z")
Presumably the hope would be by maintaining air dominance to an extent sufficient to permit the mines to be cleared and not replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/908 "2026-03-18T04:59:53Z")
That would require the needed minesweepers be actually _there_ instead of, say [Malaysia](https://www.twz.com/sea/u-s-navy-minesweepers-assigned-to-middle-east-have-been-moved-to-pacific). ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/909 "2026-03-18T05:23:48Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > That would require the needed minesweepers be actually _there_ instead of, say [Malaysia](https://www.twz.com/sea/u-s-navy-minesweepers-assigned-to-middle-east-have-been-moved-to-pacific).   No problem – all Trump has to do is demand that the NATO allies that he’s regularly insulted and shunned help him out in the Strait of Hormuz! 😁 My only objection to this story is that I question whether there’s such a thing as a “US ally” any more. > **['Not our war': U.S. allies balk at Trump's Strait of Hormuz demands](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/us-allies-respond-trump-strait-of-hormuz-demands-nato-iran-war-rcna263650)** > > Many European governments expressed reservations Monday about providing military support to reopen the crucial waterway. The “leadership” exuded by this gang of criminal incompetents is … well, rather underwhelming! If there’s a way to do something stupid, counterproductive, and loathsome, by golly they’ll find it! Bonus points if it gets the US universally hated around the world. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/910 "2026-03-18T06:25:24Z")
From Google AI (not necessarily right, of course,) Saudi oil apparently accounts for only 6-8% of Europe’s oil imports. So while Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz may have some effect, Europe will never need to be cajoled into the strait to fix Trump’s mess. Plus, Iran has already said European ships can pass through. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/911 "2026-03-18T06:25:47Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > How are US fighter jets going to “protect shipping” when Iran reportedly has liberally salted the Strait of Hormuz with mines? That’s exactly it - according to this Perun video and the sources it cites, they _haven’t_ done that so far. Hormuz is their economic life blood, and mines shut it off for everyone. If they can get away with it, they’d rather shut the strait with drones, because drones can target only specific ships you want to target. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/UWS0kXVLCQ4/maxresdefault.jpg "The Iran Naval & Economic War - Hormuz, Energy Exports & The End of the Iranian Navy?") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWS0kXVLCQ4) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/912 "2026-03-18T06:57:34Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > according to this Perun video and the sources it cites, they _haven’t_ done that so far. Hormuz is their economic life blood, and mines shut it off for everyone. CNN claims that according to US intelligence sources **[Iran has been laying mines in the Strait for well over a week now](https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/10/politics/iran-begins-laying-mines-in-strait-of-hormuz)**, though not necessarily to any great extent. Trump certainly seems all worked up about it, demanding NATO assistance as previously noted. Iranian tankers could still get through if they know where the mines are. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/913 "2026-03-18T07:13:22Z")
Given that ships generally aren’t flagged to the nation (or even region) related to the source and destination of their cargo, and contractual arrangements about who is carrying what for whom are extremely opaque, it’s not easy to see how Iran could reliably know which vessels were associated with those they consider to be The Enemy. I wouldn’t want to be the insurer of or crew on _any_ ship passing through Hormuz right now, no matter whose flag it was flying or cargo it was carrying. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/914 "2026-03-18T07:35:37Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Given that ships generally aren’t flagged to the nation (or even region) related to the source and destination of their cargo, and contractual arrangements about who is carrying what for whom are extremely opaque, it’s not easy to see how Iran could reliably know which vessels were associated with those they consider to be The Enemy. Presumably they’d consider any tanker that isn’t part of their own **[shadow fleet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_shadow_fleet)** to be fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/915 "2026-03-18T07:43:07Z")
According to **Velocity’s** post Iran has said it will let European ships through. I’m just not sure how they could or whether they would stick to their word. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/916 "2026-03-18T08:40:32Z")
Given how it will play to the wider global audience, by which I mean how it will embarrass Trump, it’s a win-win situation for the Iranian government to allow those ships through. As to how they’ll know whose ships they are, in this situation all that matters will be the flag the ship flies, in which country the vessel is registered. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/917 "2026-03-18T08:52:19Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > As to how they’ll know whose ships they are, in this situation all that matters will be the flag the ship flies, in which country the vessel is registered. That would give Iran no leverage, though, as VLCC and Suezmax ships are almost invariably flagged to third-party flags of convenience such as Liberia, Panama, Marshall Islands. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/918 "2026-03-18T08:54:09Z")
By the way, has there been any video statement or other proof of life by Supreme Leader Khamenei 2.0 since his election? ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/919 "2026-03-18T09:01:22Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I question whether there’s such a thing as a “US ally” any more. Hungary, El Salvador, Argentina, and, for certain issues, Russia. Unfortunately – or not – none of this countries has a functioning navy anymore. > [@Mops](#): > > has there been any video statement or other proof of life by Supreme Leader Khamenei 2.0 since his election? Not that I know of. The weirdest theory I heard is that he is receiving treatment for injuries in Moscow. If true I wonder what would happen in case Ukraine found out the precise location and finished the job the USA started in Tehran. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/920 "2026-03-18T09:23:24Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > As to how they’ll know whose ships they are, in this situation all that matters will be the flag the ship flies, in which country the vessel is registered. Yes, but the tankers are loaded with Iranian crude. And they know who bought the oil. Who owns the vessel and/or who it’s leased to are of less relevance. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/921 "2026-03-18T09:24:53Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > As to how they’ll know whose ships they are, in this situation all that matters will be the flag the ship flies, in which country the vessel is registered. What **Mops** said. Flags are near irrelevant to a determination of beneficial ownership and completely irrelevant to ownership of the cargo. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/922 "2026-03-18T09:27:55Z")
> [@penultima\_thule](#): > > Yes, but the tankers are loaded with Iranian crude. Is this correct? Ships carrying Iraqi, Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Qatari oil all go through Hormuz. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/923 "2026-03-18T09:30:57Z")
Not for the last three weeks. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/924 "2026-03-18T09:39:25Z")
Yes, but the Iranians will know which tankers have their oil, and the B/L will tell them sufficient detail to know which of those tankers if any they want to target. Whether they would target a tanker with say Kuwaiti cargo would be a determination by their war council. They might even offer a deal to fellow Gulf states … provide us with the purchaser, destination and B/L details of any tanker loaded at your facilities and if they are approved by us, they can have safe passage and we won’t send more ordinance your way. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2026, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071/925 "2026-03-18T10:19:01Z")
This article explains Iran’s selective blockade of Hormuz well. **Traffic is trickling through Strait of Hormuz: Who’s moving through** > **[Traffic is trickling through Strait of Hormuz: Who's moving through and who's...](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/18/hormuz-bottleneck-vessel-tanker-tracker-shipping-strait-of-hormuz.html?__source=androidappshare)** > > Iran has scared off most ships from the Strait of Hormuz, leaving some ships to pass through, while most continued to wait outside the Gulf. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=45) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/united-states-and-israel-are-bombing-iran-for-current-ongoing-events-past-future-have-specific-threads/1028071.md?page=47)