General Dan Caine told reporters the U.S. will chase any Iranian‑flagged ship or vessel supplying Tehran, no matter where it sails. The directive expands the blockade announced last week from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean, effectively turning every high‑seas tanker into a potential target. With the Strait of Hormuz choked and a two‑week cease‑fire fading, the move ties long‑standing sanctions to Operation Epic Fury, a kinetic military campaign.

Legal scholars warn the strategy skirts unclear international law. Under the law of war, a blockade must be both enforceable and effective; critics argue a global sweep may be “overly broad.” Historian James Holmes notes that past powers, from Britain to the Allies in World War II, imposed worldwide blockades, but even they struggled to police the seven seas. Washington’s ability to field enough ships, aircraft and boarding teams will decide whether the embargo passes the legal test.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled Operation Economic Fury, a financial offensive that layers secondary sanctions on banks handling Iranian oil revenues. The dual pressure aims to squeeze Tehran’s war chest while keeping global oil markets from spiraling. Yet analysts like Jennifer Kavanagh doubt the tactic will force a rapid Iranian capitulation; Iran views the conflict as existential and may endure prolonged economic strain.