What the Hell Is Going On: WTH: The Iran Blockade? Miad Maleki Explains.

In this episode of 'What the Hell is Going On?', hosts Danielle Plotka and Mark Thiessen dissect the dramatic reversal in U.S.-Iran dynamics following President Trump's strategic blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz. A week after Iranian forces appeared to gain leverage by threatening to close the strait, the U.S. flipped the script by enforcing a blockade that now prevents Iranian ships from exporting oil or importing goods—while allowing allied vessels free passage. The episode features expert analysis from Miad Maleki, a U.S. Air Force veteran and former senior sanctions official at the Treasury Department, who explains how Iran’s economy is critically dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, with 90–95% of its trade flowing through it. Maleki argues that Iran’s attempt to weaponize the strait backfired, crippling its own economy and exposing deep vulnerabilities, including a gasoline shortage, collapsing currency, and a 90% loss in purchasing power. He warns that while Iran may seek a deal, any agreement must avoid sanctions relief and instead focus on regime change through sustained pressure and support for Iranian civil society. The hosts emphasize that the U.S. must maintain its military and economic pressure to prevent Iran from regaining leverage, drawing parallels to historical strategies like the Reagan Doctrine and the need for a long-term, non-negotiable deterrence policy. Key takeaways include: (1) The Strait of Hormuz blockade is not just a military tactic but a devastating economic weapon that has crippled Iran’s trade and internal stability; (2) Iran’s economy is so fragile that even a short-term blockade could trigger domestic unrest and regime collapse; (3) The U.S. should avoid any deal that provides sanctions relief or access to frozen assets, as this would reward the regime and undermine long-term strategic goals; (4) The U.S. must support Iranian civil society and opposition movements to enable a democratic transition; (5) The blockade’s success demonstrates the power of combining economic sanctions with credible military presence; (6) Regional actors like Saudi Arabia and the UAE are now reevaluating their energy infrastructure to reduce dependence on the Strait of Hormuz; (7) The U.S. should use this moment to establish a lasting deterrent strategy against Iran and potentially other adversaries like China, whose energy routes are similarly vulnerable; and (8) The psychological and political pressure on Iran must continue until the regime is forced to surrender not just nuclear material, but its entire system of oppression.