Iran has expanded its attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf, targeting tankers near Qatar and the UAE as it seeks to maintain leverage over the critical energy waterway. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared it would pursue vessels through unauthorised passages across the entire region, warning that punishment would be certain. This escalation follows a period of relative calm, as Iran retaliated against renewed confidence among vessel owners to transit the strait after Gulf oil exports approached prewar levels.
Over the past 10 days, attacks have intensified, marking some of the deadliest for tanker operators since the war began. While most incidents previously occurred within a 40km zone near Oman’s Musandam peninsula, recent strikes on a Turkish-owned tanker off Qatar and a Chinese-owned supertanker near the UAE indicate a broader operational range. The US Navy has been providing air cover along Oman’s coastline to encourage safe transit, but analysts suggest Iran is exploiting gaps in this coverage to strike elsewhere.
Security experts note the attacks aim to remind Gulf states that aligning with the US carries security and economic costs beyond the strait. Commodity tracker Kpler reported that although oil flows had recovered to prewar levels in September, intensified tanker attacks drove exports sharply lower, with the seven-day average dropping to 9.9 million barrels per day — 42% below the prewar baseline.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing