It’s looking like Trump’s war created a private oil lane for China and other countries willing to play ball with Iran

Iran is asserting control over the Strait of Hormuz even as the U.S. and Israel continue to bombard the country, first by bringing traffic to a near standstill with attacks on ships and then by choosing who can travel through the narrow waterway.

According to the maritime news and intelligence journal Lloyd’s List, Tehran has carved out a de facto “safe” shipping corridor through Iranian territorial waters via Iran’s Larak Island, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the port authority can make visual confirmation of “approved” vessels.

Passage through the corridor is negotiated on a case-by-case basis, and the governments of India, Pakistan, Iraq, Malaysia and China have discussed transit plans directly with Tehran, Lloyd’s reported on Wednesday. One tanker even paid about $2 million as part of its agreement with Iran.

“Ships hoping to use the pre-approved route are expected to have communicated extensive details regarding both the ownership of the vessel and destination of the cargo to the IRGC in advance of the transit,” Lloyd’s added. “Those details are being communicated via a series of Iran-affiliated individuals operating outside of Iran.”...