MANAMA, Aug. 25 -- The number that CENTCOM publishes every few days is going up by about one a day. On Monday it stood at 71 commercial vessels redirected since the United States reimposed its naval blockade of Iranian ports. The two numbers alongside it have not moved in more than a week, and that is the more revealing part of the tally.

As of August 24, US Central Command said on X, its forces had redirected 71 commercial vessels, disabled three and boarded two to ensure compliance. More than 40 vessels supporting humanitarian aid have been allowed through.

Run the same statement back through August and the pattern is clean. On August 14 the count was 62 redirected, three disabled, two boarded. By August 20 it was 67 and three. On Aug...