seems like both sides are testing waters with low intensity clashes, very uncertain times ahead.
IMHO...
The USA is provoking Iran, with a view of attempting to identify "
all of Iran's ability to "monitor" the Straits and it is then systematically taking them out. It is trying to keep them at a low level that it believes it can get away with under the guise of the "ceasefire", and Iran is now starting to slowly escalate beyond the tit-for-tat model as it does not want this to become the norm. That is why the USA is sacrificing low value MQ-1 drones(and not using MQ-9's) so that Iran reveal radar sites, etc.
Negotiations are at a deadlock unless something changes, and Trump may(I think will) go another go to opening the Straits directly to try and remove Iran's leverage.
Each and every attempt by the USN Warships over the last few weeks, is to gather intelligence, and gather actual capabilities for such an operation and to evaluate effectiveness of Iran's systems.
The Americans,
after the world cup is over,
will attempt to break open the Straits by attempting to destroy Iran's ability to enforce the blockade itself. That is why they are focusing on radars, and drone launch sites and the islands along Iran's coast.
These attacks are preparing the ground for operations to re-start after the world cup
imho.
This war is not over imho
. The American administration have consistently said they have "20 odd days" left under the 60 day notification window to congress, and I think it is with a view that they will try and do it within this timeframe, hence the references to "intensify" by Trump recently. I don't hold much value or stock to the recent votes on attempting to restrict Trumps ability to wage war as he has said he will veto it...
Time will tell. Does Iran recognize what the next step of the war will be which will be a war for the Straits ? I think so.