Nick Fountain

And recently, they've insinuated that one part of the strait, the part near Oman, is not safe.

Like, maybe there are mines?

Which means captains have to go right by Iran's shores to get through the strait, effectively creating a choke point for the global economy.

Last week on Tuesday, when President Trump announced a ceasefire, he said the Iranians had agreed to completely open up the Strait.

But the next day, the ships in that area got a very different message.

Transiting in the Strait of Hormuz is closed.

If any vessels try to transit without permission, they will be destroyed.

Which was kind of a clue that some ships were able to get through with permission.

Maybe this was a way out for the bright pig chip?

I wanted to figure out how that permission works.

How do you get it and what does it cost?

So I started calling around.

Yeah, vale.

Hello?

Yes.

Who's speaking?

This is Nick Fountain.

I just messaged you.

I was honestly kind of surprised to get Hamid Hosseini on the phone.

He's not a government official, but he is very well connected in the oil and gas industry.