USS Enterprise Faces Off with Iran
It what does sound like a Star Trek movie or TV show, where the USS Enterprise and Capt. James T. Kirk goes where few have gone before despite the menacing enemies of the Federation, in this world, the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and assorted other task force ships will challenge the Iranian threat of not sailing past the Strait of Hormuz.
When? March. Recall, Iran warned and threatened the US that once the US Stennis aircraft carrier sailed past the Strait and away from away, no other US ship would be allowed to enter the Persian Gulf without facing danger from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which operate the numerous anti-ship batteries along the coastal areas of Iran and some naval attack boats.
Thus, a face off, unless Iran by March does want to talk and defuse the nuclear weapons program. The USS Enterprise with its 1700 personnel on board is one of America's largest aircraft carriers and quite capable of projecting serious power with its aircraft and cruise missiles. The task force will no doubt also have several other ships with cruise missiles and defenses to protect the CV.
What could Iran do? The passive attack and least confrontational would be to lay mines all over the Strait area, allowing them to float with current to clog the narrow few miles of sea lanes the US task force must traverse. Given the fact that have thousands, it is easiest and cheapest manner to create serious havoc to shipping lanes and showing the world that Iran does not back down nor is a whimp to US power.
As James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterpise might say, "full steam ahead, Scotty, we're going in, phasers on stun".