The Iranians are going after tankers on the theory that if they screw up the world's economy enough, then people will agitate for Iran's enemies to surrender so they can get their economy back. The quickest way to do that, and the ONLY way for Iran, is to stop the oil tankers. So, they go after oil tankers, but let their friend tankers, with Iranian oil, cruise through.
If I was Trump, which I ain't, instead of going after a counter-blockade, I'd lust blow up all of Iran's oil loading facilities, and miles of pipeline leading to them all around. That would work as well to stop Iran making bank selling their oil to China on the cheap, and no tankers would be harmed in the production of those results. It's not like Iran can suddenly hide all their port facilities or anything - they're right there, sitting ducks out in the open, ripe for the picking.
I'd also send a few air patrols across eastern Iran, looking for pipelines to blow up running eastward to China. That would stop all Iran oil going to China. It's not an attack on China per se, it's a move to bankrupt Iran because that would keep them from selling their oil to anyone - not limited to China - until new facilities could be built. So, If China didn't like it, they could cram their strongly worded letters straight up their ass.
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If I was Trump, which I ain't, instead of going after a counter-blockade, I'd lust blow up all of Iran's oil loading facilities, and miles of pipeline leading to them all around. That would work as well to stop Iran making bank selling their oil to China on the cheap, and no tankers would be harmed in the production of those results. It's not like Iran can suddenly hide all their port facilities or anything - they're right there, sitting ducks out in the open, ripe for the picking.
I'd also send a few air patrols across eastern Iran, looking for pipelines to blow up running eastward to China. That would stop all Iran oil going to China. It's not an attack on China per se, it's a move to bankrupt Iran because that would keep them from selling their oil to anyone - not limited to China - until new facilities could be built. So, If China didn't like it, they could cram their strongly worded letters straight up their ass.
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“Trouble rather the tiger in his lair than the sage among his books. For to you kingdoms and their armies are things mighty and enduring, but to him they are but toys of the moment, to be overturned with the flick of a finger.”
― Gordon R. Dickson, Tactics of Mistake
― Gordon R. Dickson, Tactics of Mistake