Putting lipstick on a pig is the only way to describe the Trump administration’s systematic failures in dealing with the fallout from a failed Iran War!
This article is part of a five-part series detailing the Trump administration’s total, systemic failures in its Iran campaign. From (1) trying to decapitate Iran, only to engineer Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise, and the emergence of hardline IRGC leadership into key roles governing Iran, to (2) a failed attempt to capture Iran’s Uranium that now, in retrospect, looks more like a Jimmy Carter’s failed desert hostage rescue mission, to (3) the obliteration of US bases in the region with not only billions of dollars of damage but also – more importantly – the serious loss of electronic surveillance and guidance systems which will take years to restore. And then (4) we look at Trump’s failure to blockade the Straits of Hormuz and his aborted series of negotiations.
Trump has made the situation inside Iran much worse. He has added no value to the US or its allies. In a final, (5), conclusive article we explore how, without a visible or viable off-ramp, and a near total collapse of the world (and regional) economies, Trump may choose (or has already chosen) to either – directly or indirectly – nuke Iran, causing devastation on a scale never seen by mankind, leading to the death of over 10 million Iranians and large parts of Iran rendered totally uninhabitable for centuries – and precipitating the start of World War III, and the end of the American empire.
For me, with the evidence so blatant and openly available, what is incredibly baffling is the total lack of congressional oversight and control. How can a rogue President conduct such an expensive, failed campaign for over 60 days without challenge? This is not only a systematic failure of the Trump administration to conduct a campaign against Iran, but also a systematic failure of governance in America – and the whole world (with no real oversight by the UN Security Council, or other allied leadership). It is a failure on an unprecedented scale.
I implore you to read all 5 articles and decide for yourself.
The central irony of the U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is that it is not stopping shipping evenly. Iranian ships are still getting through while allied shipping stops.
Instead, the blockade has produced a strange and counterproductive reality:
- Iranian oil exports are still moving through the system.
- A shadow network of tankers continues operating.
- Meanwhile, Western commercial shipping has largely stopped.
In effect, the blockade is constraining America’s own allies and global commerce far more than it is stopping Iran.
Understanding how this is happening requires a close look at the ships that have already passed through the strait and at the methods Iran is using to bypass the blockade.
Iranian and Sanctioned Ships That Have Successfully Transited
Despite the U.S. naval presence, multiple vessels tied to Iranian oil or sanctions networks have successfully navigated the strait.
Among the ships reported to have transited are:
Rich Starry (Chinese-linked tanker)
The tanker Rich Starry, linked to sanctioned oil trading networks, successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz after the blockade began.
The vessel had previously carried Russian and Iranian-origin oil and is believed to be part of the shadow fleet used to circumvent sanctions.
Murlikishan (Handy tanker)
Another sanctioned tanker, Murlikishan, also passed through the waterway while en route to load fuel oil in Iraq.
Like many vessels in the dark fleet, the tanker has a history of opaque ownership and involvement in sanctioned oil trades.
Shoja-2 (Iran-flagged cargo ship)
The Iranian cargo vessel Shoja-2 was tracked crossing the strait into the Gulf of Oman before turning off its location signals—an increasingly common tactic among Iranian-linked vessels.
Ships turning off AIS tracking systems have become a primary method for evading monitoring.
Ocean Jet and Lumina Ocean
Two ships linked to Iran’s shadow fleet—Ocean Jet and Lumina Ocean—also transited the strait despite being under sanctions.
Marine-tracking data indicated they used coastal routes and irregular signaling patterns to move through the waterway.
Multiple Shadow Fleet Tankers
Shipping intelligence data indicates more than two dozen Iran-linked vessels carrying oil and gas have slipped through the blockade since it began.
These vessels are part of a global shadow network that moves Iranian crude through complex ownership structures and ship-to-ship transfers.
The Dark Fleet Strategy
Iran’s ability to move oil despite the blockade relies heavily on what maritime analysts call the “dark fleet.”
These vessels operate using several tactics:
Turning Off Tracking Systems
Ships deactivate AIS transponders, making them invisible to many tracking systems.
This allows them to disappear temporarily while transferring cargo or passing through monitored waters.
Ship-to-Ship Transfers
Oil can be transferred between tankers in open waters.
Once the cargo changes ships, its origin becomes difficult to trace.
Flags of Convenience
Many tankers operate under obscure or constantly changing national registrations.
This creates legal complications when enforcing sanctions.
Coastal Routing
Ships hug coastlines or navigate close to territorial waters, making interception diplomatically and legally complicated.
Iran Is Selectively Allowing Certain Ships Through
Iran has also adopted a selective transit policy.
Rather than closing the Strait entirely, Iranian authorities have allowed certain ships to pass while blocking others.
For example, earlier in the crisis, Iran signaled it would permit vessels linked to China or neutral countries to transit the waterway.
Several ships broadcasting Chinese ownership or other non-Western affiliations were allowed to pass.
This selective access serves two purposes:
- It keeps Iran’s oil customers supplied.
- It divides the international coalition supporting the blockade.
Meanwhile, Allied Shipping Is Being Stopped
While Iranian oil still moves through shadow networks, commercial shipping from Western companies has largely stopped.
There are three reasons for this.
Insurance Collapse
Shipping insurers have declared the Strait of Hormuz a war-risk zone.
Insurance premiums have skyrocketed, making voyages economically impossible for many companies.
Mine Threats
Iran has deployed or threatened to deploy naval mines, forcing the U.S. Navy into a slow and dangerous mine-clearing campaign that could take months.
Even rumors of mines can stop shipping entirely.
Vessel Seizures
Iran has demonstrated it is willing to seize ships linked to Western commerce. Two high-profile examples include:
- MSC Francesca (Panama-flagged container ship)
- Epaminondas (Liberia-flagged cargo vessel)
Both were seized by Iranian forces after gunfire incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
Another vessel, Euphoria, was also attacked during the same confrontation.
These incidents have reinforced the perception that Western shipping is being specifically targeted.
The Blockade Is Turning into an Economic Weapon Against Allies
The result is a profound strategic contradiction. The United States can intercept individual ships and redirect vessels attempting to call at Iranian ports. But it cannot force private shipping companies to enter a war zone.
And so, the practical outcome has been:
- Western commercial shipping stops.
- Iranian shadow exports continue.
- China and neutral traders adapt.
- Global energy markets absorb the shock.
Instead of isolating Iran, the blockade has created a two-tier shipping system in which Iranian-aligned networks keep moving while allied commercial shipping stays away.
Strategic Reality
Blockades historically succeed when they completely isolate a country’s trade routes. That has not happened here. Iran has adapted quickly using shadow fleets, selective transit rules, and asymmetric harassment.
Meanwhile, global shipping—risk-averse and insurance-driven—has largely avoided the strait altogether. The result is a blockade that exists militarily but fails economically. It restricts Iran but does not stop it. And in the process, it has helped trigger a global energy shock while leaving the underlying conflict unresolved.
The strangest aspect of this blockade is that without question, (US War Secretary) Hegseth and Trump know this truth; yet they stand behind the podium and declare the blockade a success. One more time, they are putting lipstick on a pig. It’s a blatant lie. A deception.
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