Iran shifting tactics to step up attacks on shipping before US vote, officials say
USO•Iran is using new tactics to target ships in and beyond the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to keep oil prices high before the November US midterm elections, Iranian officials said. Attacks on commercial ships have surged, with at least five incidents reported around Hormuz in the past 48 hours.
1. New tactics and targets
Iran has changed the type and pace of attacks on vessels it considers in violation of its restrictions, two senior Iranian officials said. They said the strategy, approved by Iran’s leadership, aims to frustrate efforts to lower global oil prices and influence the US midterm elections.
2. Spotters and wider operations
A US military official said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has used unarmed spotters in small boats to identify potential targets, including US naval vessels. The official said US forces confronted and destroyed a dhow last week after determining its occupants were calling in targets; there were no casualties. Iranian officials said Tehran would expand operations beyond Hormuz to the Gulf of Oman and waters farther afield.
3. Shipping risks persist
At least five incidents involving tankers and other commercial ships were reported around Hormuz in the past 48 hours, including drone strikes. Iranian officials said Tehran was moving toward a complete closure of the strait to vessels violating its restrictions. A US Navy-led maritime information center rated the threat to merchant shipping as severe.
