Iran Threatens Hormuz Blockade as Tanker Attacks Surge
Iran announced a shift to an aggressive military doctrine and threatened to blockade the Strait of Hormuz amid a surge in attacks on commercial tankers.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced its readiness to implement a complete blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to close all maritime routes it deems illegal for oil transport. Senior advisor Mohammad Reza Naqdi stated the passage would remain closed until Tehran's legitimate demands are met. This threat coincides with a shift in Iranian military doctrine from a defensive model to an aggressive posture that includes preemptive strikes. Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami-Nia detailed plans to extend missile ranges to 1,000 kilometers and confirmed that U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Qatar are included in a target database.
These threats follow a sharp increase in Iranian attacks on commercial tankers. Between September 28 and October 5, at least 12 oil and gas tankers were targeted, marking the highest weekly level of incidents since the start of the US-Iran war on February 28. The Joint Maritime Information Center reports that Iran is using drones, surveillance, and radio hailing to assert control over transit lanes.
Global markets reacted immediately to the escalation, with Brent crude futures rising to $102.21. To mitigate risks, the U.S. military established a protected shipping route along the coast of Oman. However, these security measures and the adoption of ship-to-ship transfer shuttle systems have driven shipping rates from the Persian Gulf to China as high as $1 million per day per tanker.
