Commentary
The Dispatch

Trump Launches a Blockade of Iranian Ports

Michael Sobolik Hudson Institute
Michael Sobolik Hudson Institute
Michael Sobolik
Senior Fellow (Nonresident)
Michael Sobolik
Commentary
Bulk Carrier, Belray, in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026 in northern Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. In a statement yesterday, the UAE and nearly two dozen other countries issued a joint statement condemning Iran's "attacks by Iran on unarmed commercial vessels in the Gulf, attacks on civilian infrastructure including oil and gas installations, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces." Maritime traffic through the strait, which conveys about 20% of the
A bulk carrier near the Strait of Hormuz on March 22, 2026, in Ras al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. (Getty Images)

Michael Sobolik appears on The Dispatch Podcast to discuss the United States' negotiations with Iran, the enforcement of the blockade, and its impact on China. He also offers insights into Taiwan’s defense budget.

image of a concrete wall

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