A year ago, President Trump scrapped the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran. Since then, he has effectively declared economic war on Iran, imposing new and crippling sanctions as part of a strategy of “maximum pressure” to force regime change and end Iran’s support for terrorism.
Iran has responded with threats to close the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point through which about 20 percent of the world’s traded petroleum travels. Since May, six oil tankers have been attacked near the Strait, and last Friday Iran seized a British-owned tanker.
U.S. aircraft and troops are being rushed to the region.