Iran’s ship attacks show strategy of disruption not discrimination
- Iran attacks in July and August had focused on the Gulf State-controlled shuttle tankers successfully accelerating crude exports under US protection
- Recent attacks on bulkers, tankers and gas carriers suggest Iran is avoiding a predictable targeting pattern
- Analysts say Tehran’s goal is to keep Hormuz perceived as unsafe, preserving strategic leverage despite high US interception rates
Analysis of 93 attacks on commercial vessels since the start of the US-Iran war suggests Tehran is targeting uncertainty rather than any specific category of ship, striking a mix of tankers, gas carriers and bulkers to maintain pressure on a vital maritime chokepoint
