- if trump really wanted to crimp near and mid-term supply, he has had more than enough justification and time to choke russia and\or the thousand tanker darkfleet.

let's not pretend he avoided this simply due to guaranteed gop incompetence in strategy and execution.

It's a matter of logistics. If the US hijacked a tanker full of Iranian crude in the Indian Ocean, or South China Sea, what would it do with it? No country is going to aid and abet USian piracy by allowing the US to steam the ship into their port, to auction off the ship and cargo, so the Pirate King can stuff the money into his pocket. They would need to sail the ship all the way to the US. When a ship leaves Kharg Island, bound for China, it probably has enough fuel to make the trip, but not enough to make it to the US. Again, what country would align itself with USian piracy, by allowing the highjacked ship to come into port to refuel?

Venezuela is the only place where ships can be hijacked, that is close enough to steam the booty back to the US.

Steve