- Iran has increased attacks on commercial shipping beyond the Strait of Hormuz recently
- New tactics include more frequent attacks and use of unarmed spotters on small boats
- Iran aims to keep global oil prices high before the US midterm elections in November
Iran has stepped up attacks on commercial shipping and expanded its operations beyond the Strait of Hormuz in an apparent bid to keep global oil prices high ahead of the US midterm elections in November, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing two senior Iranian officials.
Tehran has adopted new offensive tactics against vessels it considers to be violating its restrictions on passage through the strategic waterway, with the changes reportedly introduced around 10 days ago. The officials said the new approach involved changes in both the type and frequency of attacks.
The Strait of Hormuz, which handled about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war, has been a key pressure point since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28.
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Reuters citing one Iranian official reported that the strategy was intended to frustrate US and allied efforts to bring down global oil prices. The decision, according to the officials, was taken at the highest levels of Iran's leadership.
A US military official confirmed that Iran had changed its tactics following the destruction of much of its radar capabilities by US forces. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has reportedly begun using unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets, including US naval vessels.
Reuters reported that in an incident last week, US forces detected Iranian spotters operating from a dhow and relaying target information to the IRGC. American forces confronted the vessel, ordered its occupants to abandon ship and subsequently destroyed it. No casualties were reported.
The US official added that Iran had been unable to stop an increase in oil exports through the strait, partly because it was reluctant to risk its remaining fast boats after US strikes severely damaged its navy.
The Iranian officials said Tehran also planned to extend operations into the Gulf of Oman and waters farther afield. Maritime security data cited by Reuters suggests that attacks have already reached 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 in the preceding 48 hours, including drone strikes, according to maritime security data and reports to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency.
A maritime security source described the increase in attacks as deliberate, while the UN shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, also recorded a similar surge in incidents.
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The second Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would not allow US President Donald Trump to bring down oil prices before the elections, comparing the confrontation to a game of chess.
Both Iranian officials warned that Tehran was moving towards a complete closure of the strait to vessels violating its restrictions. The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Center said on Sunday that the threat to merchant shipping remained severe, citing drone overflights, targeted surveillance and harassment of commercial vessels.
The escalating standoff has left global energy markets vulnerable to further disruption, with attacks, elevated shipping costs and rising insurance premiums complicating efforts to restore normal traffic.
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