Is the Iran war back on for real?

This story appeared in The Logoff, a daily newsletter that helps you stay informed about the Trump administration without letting political news take over your life. Subscribe here. Welcome to The Logoff: President Donald Trump followed days of intense US strikes on Iran by declaring the US is taking charge of the Strait of Hormuz — and demanding payments of 20 percent of the value of all cargo shipped through it. What happened to the ceasefire? Last week, the hazy ceasefire deal that the US and Iran struck in mid-June fell apart, as Iran attacked several oil tankers traversing the strait. The US responded by striking more than 300 targets in Iran and reimposing sanctions. Iran resumed attacks on US bases in the Gulf as well. So what did Trump say now? On Monday morning, Trump said that he was reinstating the US’s naval blockade on Iran and declared the US to be “THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.” Trump further declared that the US “will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job.” What’s the context? Since Trump launched the war in February, Iran’s most effective response has been the attacks on ships that effectively “closed” the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil corridor — posing the risk of a major spike in oil prices. Trump has made his deep desire to reopen the strait obvious. But Iran has been unwilling to give up this leverage so easily: It has asserted the right to charge fees for passage — and to fire on ships that don’t play ball. So Trump is essentially saying, You don’t take me hostage; I’ll take you hostage (since Iran also needs to ship oil through the strait). And in typical Trumpian fashion, he wants to take a percentage for the US. Is the war fully back on? Things don’t look good right now, but both sides have emphasized that talks are still ongoing. But though Trump clearly isn’t eager for a return to full-scale conflict, he may feel emboldened by the fact that the world adapted surprisingly well to the strait’s closure earlier this year. And with that, it’s time to log off… Have you listened to Unexplainable, the great Vox podcast delving into scientific mysteries? Well, you can now watch it: Starting today, it’s on Netflix! Episode 1, “Are you a lyric person or a music person?”, is live. (I’m most definitely a music person.)