Iran has shown a willingness to do these things through proxies regardless of anyone else before.
replyFurthermore, if they want to deal with the US or Israel, then they should target American or Israeli assets. Not third party ships manned by citizens of neutral nations who just want to get to port and remit cash to their families back home.
Should they avoid doing that because it’s working really well at putting their opponents in a bad spot, while costing them almost nothing?
replyThose ships are bearing goods from (or taking goods to) countries that are hosting US forces attacking them. They’re valid targets, and blockading their shipping… I mean, the US does that to countries that haven’t even helped attack us, seems insane to suggest it’s somehow a foul to do that to countries that are helping attack you.
Running a blockade is a risky proposition; it's not something that happens by accident.
replyA lot of these "neutral" countries either host US military bases, US companies, or are otherwise aligned generally with the US.