Ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, Iran is intensifying attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to influence energy prices and political decisions in Washington. Iranian officials believe that Donald Trump's sensitivity to energy prices will decrease after the elections, thus they are trying to exert more pressure on him by increasing insecurity in this strategic waterway.
Increase in Attacks on Ships
According to Iranian officials, avoiding a repeat of the 1980 hostage crisis that harmed Jimmy Carter's election campaign is one of the main objectives of these attacks. In this regard, Iran has adopted new approaches to target ships and has carried out an average of 30 attacks per week on these vessels in September. Since the beginning of this month, more than 20 ships have been targeted, one of which has sunk.
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Impact on Oil Exports and Global Situation
While Iran continues to escalate its attacks, global statistics show that oil exports from the Persian Gulf have significantly increased. Data from Kpler indicates that daily oil export volumes have approached pre-war averages. Amineh Baker, head of the Middle East energy sector at Kpler, has predicted that as long as shipping costs and risks remain high, global energy prices will also stay elevated. This has fueled public discontent in the U.S. and negatively impacted Trump's popularity ahead of the midterm elections.
In response to these developments, the U.S. government has launched extensive operations to protect ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. forces are employing fighter jets, drones, and special operations teams to provide multi-layered protection for shipping in the region.
Despite these measures, it seems that Iran is trying to use these attacks as a tool to pressure the U.S. government and influence the outcomes of the midterm elections. This situation has become particularly significant given that Iran is facing an economic crisis and international isolation. Diplomats believe that the increase in attacks in the Strait of Hormuz could be used as leverage to improve Iran's position in future negotiations.
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