The Strait of Hormuz is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, and tensions have been running high since Iran blocked nearly all ships passing through the strait. The US has responded by imposing a separate blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran sees the US actions as a blatant disregard for international law, and has accused the US of 'arming robbery on the high seas'. The Iranian government has vowed to maintain its chokehold on the strait as long as the US continues to blockade its ports.

The US military has been working to ensure compliance with the blockade, redirecting 45 vessels as of last Friday. The Pentagon has said that the blockade will last 'as long as it takes', with top officials stating that it applies to all ships, regardless of nationality, heading into or from Iranian ports.

Iran has lost millions of dollars in oil revenue due to the US blockade, with a recent report estimating that the country has lost over $4.8 billion. The financial strain has put a significant burden on the Iranian economy, and has exacerbated tensions between the two countries.

The comparison to piracy has sparked a heated debate about the legitimacy of the US actions. While some have defended the US Navy's actions as necessary to enforce international law, others have criticized the comparison as inflammatory and misguided.

The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile, with both sides refusing to back down. The US and Iran continue to engage in a game of cat and mouse, with the world watching anxiously to see how the situation will unfold.