Summary
- Iran is changing its tactics to intensify attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to keep global oil prices elevated and influence the outcome of the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials have told Reuters.
- Threats and attacks have sharply reduced maritime traffic, pushed up oil prices and increased shipping and insurance costs, although some oil shipments continue to pass through the strait.
- The US Navy-led Joint Maritime Information Centre has maintained a severe threat assessment for merchant shipping, citing IRGC attacks, attempted attacks, surveillance and harassment of commercial vessels.
AI Generated Summary
Iran is changing its tactics to intensify attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, seeking to keep global oil prices elevated and influence the outcome of the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials have told Reuters.
The officials said Tehran had introduced new offensive methods around 10 days ago, increasing the frequency and changing the nature of attacks against vessels it considers to have violated its restrictions on passage through the strategic waterway.
The development threatens to deepen disruptions to global energy supplies as Washington and Tehran remain locked in a military and economic confrontation.
Iran has sought to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the United States and Israel launched strikes against the country on February 28. Before the war, the narrow passage carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade.
Threats and attacks have sharply reduced maritime traffic, pushed up oil prices and increased shipping and insurance costs, although some oil shipments continue to pass through the strait.
One Iranian official said the new strategy was designed to frustrate US and allied efforts to bring down energy prices before the November 3 midterm elections, which will determine control of Congress.
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