The Iranians can not claim to be the most rational folks on the planet but I do not think they would be foolish enough to challenge the world on the Strait of Hormuz. And, although the Coalition has conducted a naval exercise designed to maintain international shipping, the practice seemed to be more saber-rattling than anything else. The exercise was helpfully subtle.
Since the mid-seventies, the Strait of Hormuz has been considered a major political point of contention in the region. The Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, pretended to be the region’s police officer so that he could spank the socialist Iraq. Once the West's lackey Shah was ousted by Ayatollah Ruhollah, the Khomeini revolution and Tehran’s policy began to threaten blocking the strait thus Western presence was required.
The Strait has evolved to be congested with battleships and nonstop maneuvers while nearby nations are embroiled in a constant vigilant state of security.
Nonetheless, just as in the case of the Suez Canal, or other critical waterways, there is international resolution against Iran's arbitrary approach to a Strait that they share with their neighbors. The Sultanate of Oman overlooks the Strait as well. Further, the Strait of Hormuz represents the only exporting exit for Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman overlook the Gulf of Oman, and Saudi Arabia overlooks the Red Sea.
Critically, most of the Gulf oil goes to China, Japan, and India, as well as to European countries.
And, as I often will advocate on this blog, this is another excellent opportunity for both rising powers, China and Japan, to step up to the plate and offer security resources. Japan already has pledged to increase its security presence in the region as a result of more support for the Coalition in Afghanistan.
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