Iran wants the permanent imposition of tolls on the strait so that they can become masters of the region. They also want nukes so that they can become untouchable like the USA. The only credible threats to that goal are the USA and Israel. The USA is an isolationist nation at heart, and will eventually give up. Iran knows this. All they have to do is goad the USA into a ground war, which the USA will lose and then leave. There's actually a pretty decent likelihood that Iran will succeed in getting American boots on the ground, because eventually Trump will start to look weak and foolish as he repeats his schtick and Iran remains defiant and gas prices rise.

China and Russia are happy about this despite the pain, because it furthers their long term geopolitical goals (although China will backstab Russia and annex the East). They're even helping Iran in whatever ways escape notice.

The USA is currently an extension of Trump. Trump treats geopolitics like he does business: Hit them hard with the threat of a worst-case scenario and then reap the rewards of their capitulation. When this doesn't work, he "extends the deadline" and tries again. World leaders are starting to notice.

Any "maritime operations" will be useless gestures that look nice on paper, but accomplish nothing in reality. They'll destroy a few things, but Iran will continue hitting ships, and nothing will flow. Such an operation will be used as America's exit strategy so that they can present their failure as a success back home (where nobody actually understands or cares, so long as "we won").