If Iran allows oil tankers to pass, then US will stop them.

The Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil corridor, now has two locks—one for Iran and the other for the US. If anyone manages to cross the Strait of Hormuz by avoiding Iran's sea mines or paying tolls, the US Navy will begin blocking them starting at 7 pm on April 13th. This double blockade will have the greatest impact on countries like India, China, Pakistan, and Russia.

How will this double blockade of Hormuz be implemented, and what will countries like India, China, Pakistan, and Russia do to deal with it? How will the US block the already closed Strait of Hormuz?

On February 28, 2026, the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran. Following this, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to exert pressure on the US and Gulf countries. Forty days later, the US and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire on the condition of opening the Strait of Hormuz. According to reports, Iran is now charging several countries a fee of $1 per barrel for transiting the Strait of Hormuz. In some cases, this toll fee reaches $2 million, or approximately 19 crore rupees. However, ships from India, China, Pakistan, Russia, Iraq, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have received special exemptions to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Following the failure of US-Iran peace talks in Islamabad, US President Donald Trump has announced that the US Navy will begin a blockade of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Now let's understand how the US will blockade the Strait of Hormuz...

Former US Navy officer James Stavridis explains that two US aircraft carriers will need to be deployed at both ends of the Strait of Hormuz. The USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald Ford could be used for this purpose. They will be accompanied by 12 destroyers and frigates. Professor James Kraska at the US Naval War College explains that countries at war have the right to "visit and search." They can stop and inspect private ships, even preventing them from proceeding. No ship can refuse this inspection.

In addition, the US can monitor the movements of every ship using MQ-9 drones and fighter jets. The US can jam ships' communications and GPS channels, causing them to lose their way or prevent them from proceeding. According to foreign affairs expert Robinder Sachdev, the situation will become clearer after the blockade, but there are some concerns. For example, the US could impose trade sanctions on ships arriving from Iranian ports and seize the financial assets of companies. Such sanctions were also imposed in 2018. By blockading the Strait of Hormuz, the US aims to put pressure on countries, including China, India, and Japan, that are heavily dependent on this sea route. This will also pressure Iran to reach an agreement with the US.

What will the countries that Iran has exempted, such as China, Russia, and Pakistan, do?

According to Lloyd's List Intelligence, at least two ships have paid tolls to Iran in the Chinese currency, the Yuan, to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's IRGC has implemented a "toll-booth" system in the Strait of Hormuz. Under this system, ships passing through provide their complete documents to the IRGC. The IRGC then provides a clearance code. IRGC escorts then escort them through a designated corridor. Until now, Iran has allowed ships from friendly or allied countries like India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Iraq, Thailand, Turkey, and Bangladesh to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The US blockade could disrupt these transits. China could be the most affected, as it buys 90% of Iran's oil. Iran supplies 1.5-1.6 million barrels of oil daily, representing 15% of China's oil imports. Regarding the US blockade, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated that war is at the root of this crisis. Both sides should resolve the issue peacefully and with restraint. If the US intercepts Chinese ships, it could directly engage in war, but this is unlikely. Experts believe that China will either pressure Iran to reach a compromise or increase its military presence in Taiwan and the South China Sea to pressure the US. It may also increase oil trade with Russia or Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, China could block the trade of rare earth minerals from the US. China, which accounts for two-thirds of the world's rare earth mineral trade, buys 70% of its minerals, used in defense and electronics. However, Trump has offered to allow China to send its ships to the US and Venezuela to purchase oil. Regarding reports of China receiving weapons and aid from Iran, Trump threatened that if these are true, China will face a 50% tariff.

As for Russia, it is unlikely to suffer any significant and direct damage from this blockade. However, rising oil prices could benefit it. Pakistan recently obtained permission from Iran to evacuate 20 ships from the Strait of Hormuz. Pakistan is close to both Iran and the United States and has been a mediator in this conflict.

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