Iran is up to its old tricks in the Strait of Hormuz, once again proving that when the Islamic Republic talks about peace, it usually means “peace through missile fire.”

The regime that has been bullying the region for nearly five decades carried out yet another round of attacks on commercial shipping early this week, hitting tankers and threatening the vital artery of international oil trade.

Reports indicate that at least two ships were struck by Iranian missiles in the narrow waterway that connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

Though details are still developing, the timing could not be more revealing.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

Even as Iranian officials continue claiming to negotiate with the United States in good faith, their behavior says otherwise.

It is the same pattern of duplicity that has defined their rule since 1979.

President Donald Trump wasted no time delivering what Tehran truly fears: American economic firepower.

The administration officially revoked the license that allowed Iran to sell its oil under the existing Memorandum of Understanding.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

For a regime whose entire economy runs on crude exports, this is a devastating move.

According to the Treasury Department, the revocation came in direct response to Iran’s aggression in the Strait.

A U.S. official told CNBC that the MOU had always been performance-based, meaning Iran would keep its privileges only if it behaved responsibly.

Since that clearly did not happen, the White House pulled the plug. The message was unmistakable: act up, and you pay the price.

“Iran will only reap benefits if they exhibit good behavior,” said the official.

“Their actions in the Strait were wholly unacceptable to the United States and will be met with consequences.”

That statement marks a return to strength not seen since Trump’s first term, when Iran briefly remembered that America means business.

Iran has even admitted to one of the attacks. State-run media claimed that its strike on the Qatari ship Al Rekayyat was justified because the vessel supposedly ignored repeated warnings and continued its route with U.S. assistance.

The attack comes dangerously close to the border of piracy, but for Tehran, international law has never been more than a suggestion.

A second ship, the Saudi-flagged Wedyan, also sustained damage under suspicious circumstances.

United States authorities confirmed the incident and are investigating whether Iran is again trying to provoke a wider conflict.

For now, officials say, the signs are clear that Tehran is testing the limits to see how far it can push before facing military retaliation.

The attacks come during an extraordinary week for Iran, as the regime prepares an elaborate funeral procession for its late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The images of wailing crowds and endless parades were supposed to project unity and strength.

Instead, these new provocations broadcast desperation, a signal from the mullahs that even in mourning they cannot resist stirring chaos.

Trump’s reaction has shattered any illusions of a reset with Iran.

After years of failed peace talks and unenforced red lines under previous administrations, the president’s “America First” approach has made clear that the United States will not tolerate state-sponsored terrorism disguised as diplomacy.

The oil license suspension is not just a punishment; it is a warning shot across the entire regime’s economic foundation.

WATCH:

Tehran’s apologists in global media have tried to spin the strikes as defensive, suggesting Iran is merely reacting to perceived threats in its waters.

But it is worth remembering that the Strait of Hormuz is an international passage vital to world trade.

Targeting foreign ships there is akin to mining a public highway and then claiming self-defense.

It does not hold up in reality.

Every administration before has seen Iran’s pattern and yet still fallen for the same empty promises.

Billions of dollars have flowed to Tehran in exchange for supposed moderation, while its Revolutionary Guard continues exporting violence from Yemen to Syria and beyond.

The lesson, one Trump clearly absorbed, is that appeasement only funds more aggression.

What happens next depends on whether other nations finally follow America’s lead.

Europe still clings to fantasies of reviving nuclear deals and trust-based partnerships with Iran.

Meanwhile, Iranian missiles are flying and tankers are burning.

The region waits to see whether this new confrontation will spiral further or whether Washington’s sharp use of economic power will sober the ayatollahs into silence.

For now, one thing is certain.

The Islamic Republic’s regime has once again shown its true colors.

And the Trump administration, unlike its predecessors, chose to hit them where it hurts most: their wallet.

Iran wanted to flex its military muscle, and instead found its economic lifeline suddenly cut off.

The balance of power in the Gulf just shifted again, and this time not in Tehran’s favor.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.