Iran Shifts Tactics, Steps Up Attacks on Shipping in Hormuz
TEHRAN/WASHINGTON: Iran is adopting new tactics to target commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to keep global oil prices elevated and influence the outcome of the US midterm elections in November, two senior Iranian officials have told Reuters.
Iran has sought to tighten its control over the strategic waterway since the United States and Israel launched strikes against the country on February 28. The conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the strait, which handled around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war.
The restrictions and attacks have pushed up oil prices and sharply reduced maritime traffic, although some oil shipments continue to pass through the waterway.
One Iranian official said Tehran had begun employing different offensive tactics against vessels it considered to be violating its restrictions around 10 days ago, resulting in an increase in attacks. The revised strategy reportedly involves changes in both the type and frequency of attacks.
The officials said the decision was taken at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership and was coordinated across the country’s ruling system.
“The aim is to frustrate efforts by the United States and its allies to bring down global oil prices,” one official told Reuters.
Iran Uses Small Boats to Identify Targets
A US military official confirmed that Iran had changed its tactics, saying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had begun using unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets, including US naval vessels, after American strikes destroyed much of Iran’s radar capability.
According to the official, US forces recently detected Iranian spotters operating from a dhow and relaying target information to the IRGC. The US military confronted the vessel, instructed its occupants to abandon ship and subsequently destroyed it. No casualties were reported.
The official said Iran had been unable to prevent an increase in oil exports through the strait, partly because it was unwilling to risk its remaining fast boats following extensive damage to its navy.
Attacks Spread Beyond the Strait
The Iranian officials said Tehran also intended to expand the geographical scope of its operations beyond the Strait of Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and other waters in the region.
Maritime security assessments suggest that attacks may already be spreading to areas beyond the strait, including waters off Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
At least five incidents involving tankers and other commercial vessels were reported around the Hormuz area over a 48-hour period, according to maritime security sources and reports submitted to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The incidents included drone strikes.
The reported frequency of attacks was comparable to the level recorded between October 3 and 5, indicating a renewed escalation, according to data from the International Maritime Organization.
A maritime security source described the increase in strikes as deliberate, raising concerns about the safety of commercial shipping and the prospects of restoring normal maritime traffic.
Oil Prices and US Midterm Elections
The confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz has become an increasingly important issue for global energy markets and US domestic politics ahead of the November midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.
The conflict has reportedly cost the United States around $3 billion a month, adding to political pressure on the administration of President Donald Trump.
The United States has continued its naval blockade of Iranian ports and expanded sanctions in an effort to increase economic pressure on Tehran and secure an agreement to end the conflict.
One Iranian official said Tehran would seek to prevent oil prices from falling before the US elections, warning that vessels violating Iran’s restrictions would not be safe even outside the Strait of Hormuz.
The Pentagon and Iran’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, Reuters reported.
Iran Warns of Complete Closure
Both Iranian officials said Tehran was moving towards a situation in which vessels deemed to be violating its restrictions would no longer be allowed to pass through the strait.
One official warned that a complete closure could come soon, further threatening international energy supplies and maritime trade.
In its latest report, the US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) maintained that the threat to merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz remained “severe”.
The centre reported continued IRGC attacks, attempted attacks and harassment of commercial vessels, including surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles and radio communications directed at merchant ships.
The escalating confrontation has heightened concerns over further disruptions to global oil supplies, while elevated shipping and insurance costs continue to complicate efforts to restore normal traffic through one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes. Courtesy Reuters
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