Iran increased its attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz

According to data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and international maritime security sources, at least 14 attacks, attempted attacks and obstruction cases were recorded in and around the Strait of Hormuz between 5 October and 12 October.

In response to the US blockade, Iran took steps to increase its control over maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and intensified its threats against ships using routes that Tehran does not approve. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy warned that ships passing through these routes would be targeted.

Iranian officials also announced that ships trying to pass through the strait by shutting down navigation and identification systems will be considered as enemies and will target these ships.

Data obtained from the statements of UKMTO and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps show that actions against commercial ships have increased significantly since July, when the war with the USA resumed.

As transit restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz tightened in July, at least 12 attacks were recorded against tankers and cargo ships.

In August, at least 10 ships were targeted in attacks carried out with missiles and kamikaze unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including tankers and LNG tankers anchored off the coast of Fujairah in the UAE and Sohar in Oman.

Iran also attacked small tankers in response to the US and Gulf countries' ship-to-ship transfer method

In September, the number of ships attacked increased to 18 as a result of the escalating missile and UAV attacks throughout the month.

In September, the United States and its regional allies changed logistics tactics to reduce the risk of giant crude oil tankers (VLCC) being targeted as they transit directly through the Strait of Hormuz.

In early September, the USA and the Gulf countries adopted the method called "ship-to-ship", which carries oil with small ships from the ports of the Gulf countries instead of large tankers and then transfers it to large tankers in the safe zone.

While the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps was updating its military strategy against this flexibility of the USA and the Gulf countries, it began to hit some supply ships, tugboats and small tonnage tankers in the Persian Gulf, describing this US-coordinated small ship traffic and ship-to-ship transfer operations as "illegal oil smuggling and an attempt to break the Hormuz blockade".

While more than 18 commercial ships have already been targeted in the first 12 days of October, it was reported that 6 ships were hit only on October 12. Five of these ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, and one was attacked near Oman's Sohar anchorage area.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that some of these ships hit naval mines and exploded while traveling "illegally" on an "unsafe" route.