[adrianwaj]

I wonder how vulnerable ships are passing through the straight un-permitted.

If they are to pay a security (racketeering) fee to Iran, couldn't they similarly pay one to the US for offering its own protection?

It's a messy solution arming civilian ships, I just wonder if it is possible, and how.

Would Apache squadrons need to be hovering around all day nearby? That doesn't seem un-doable. Helicopters are common too - not just for the US.

Maybe a "Helicopter-carrier" is the missing link?