Iran isn't just threatening to close the Strait—it's actively seizing the ships that navigate it. In a "special naval operation," Iranian commandos have boarded and detained the Barbados-flagged oil tanker OCEAN KOI in the Sea of Oman. Accusing the vessel of trying to sabotage its economy, Tehran has escorted the ship to its shores for a "judicial probe." This high-profile takeover is a direct signal to the world: Iran is the operational master of the Gulf’s energy routes, and no vessel is beyond its reach.