Iran attacked commercial shipping and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, forcing the US to reinstate its blockade and strike Iranian military assets — a response no president could avoid. Germany, France and Britain all condemned Iran's attacks, making clear this isn't American aggression but a defense of global commerce. The US must now define a firm end state: no Iranian nuclear weapon, no control over Hormuz, no sanctions relief without verification.

The US has long used the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of coercion while violating Iran's sovereignty through military aggression and illegal strikes. If Washington chooses escalation, it cannot expect regional trade to remain unaffected. Any disruption stems from US interventionism, not Iranian policy. Rather than blaming Tehran, the US should end its military presence and respect international law to restore stability.