Tehran has sought to tighten its control over the strategic waterway since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iranian infrastructure on February 28.
The Strait of Hormuz, which carried roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the conflict, has experienced severe disruptions, rising insurance costs and increased energy prices.
Two senior Iranian officials told Reuters that the country had adopted a revised operational strategy about 10 days ago, involving changes in the frequency and nature of attacks on vessels considered to have violated Iranian maritime restrictions.
One of the officials said the strategy was formulated at the highest levels of Iran’s leadership and was intended to frustrate American and allied efforts to reduce global oil prices.
A second official described the confrontation as a strategic contest, suggesting that Tehran wanted to prevent the US administration from stabilising or lowering oil prices before the November midterm elections.
“Such vessels would be safe nowhere, even outside the Strait of Hormuz,” the official said.
Iranian sources indicated that the country’s operations were moving towards an almost complete closure of the waterway to vessels not authorised to pass through it.
According to Reuters, a US military official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that Iranian forces had changed their operational tactics following extensive damage to the country’s coastal radar infrastructure.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has increasingly deployed unarmed spotters aboard small boats to relay the coordinates of potential targets to strike units.
The report cited a recently intercepted dhow that was reportedly used as part of the approach.
Despite the tactical changes, the US military said damage to Iran’s navy had limited Tehran’s ability to halt the continued movement of oil shipments through the strait.
However, maritime security data and incident reports submitted to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) indicate a renewed escalation in attacks in recent days.
Incidents involving drone strikes and harassment of tankers have reportedly returned to levels last recorded in early October.
Security analysts monitoring the region have also reported that operations are extending beyond the immediate Strait of Hormuz corridor into the Gulf of Oman and waters near the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The developments have heightened concerns over the security of commercial shipping and the stability of global energy supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for international oil and gas trade, making prolonged disruption a potential source of further price volatility.
Higher maritime insurance premiums, security risks and uncertainty over shipping access have already increased costs for operators using the corridor.
Iran’s reported strategy also adds a political dimension to the conflict, with officials suggesting that elevated energy prices could put pressure on the Trump administration ahead of the US midterm elections.
The naval standoff continues to expose energy markets to geopolitical risks, while maritime authorities maintain a severe threat assessment for commercial shipping operating across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
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