Strait of Hormuz Route Chosen by Tankers Triggers Iran’s Response
The commercial tankers that struck as they transited the Strait of Hormuz in recent weeks were not randomly chosen but part of a “highly, highly targeted” campaign run by Tehran, according to marine traffic watchers. This deliberate targeting has led to increased tensions in the region.
Gulf states had been finding alternative routes to get their oil and gas through after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz was choked by Tehran. They had been using what is referred to as the southern corridor, a route that hugs the Omani coastline. Last week, Iran decided to shut it down too.
“That southern route has been used really, people say, in secret, but it’s not secret,” said Michelle Bockmann, a shipping analyst at Windward. “Vessels had been going through with their AIS [or tracking] switched off for a protracted period of time. It was especially being used by the United Arab Emirates to get oil out in a shuttle service.”
Ms Bockmann explained that empty tankers would make their way into the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz and load up with oil from Emirati terminals inside the Gulf. Then, those vessels would take the southern corridor to cross out of the Strait of Hormuz to locations near Fujairah, the Emirati terminal on the eastern side of the strait.
“They would do a ship-to-ship transfer to vessels that were coming in, and then that oil would go for onward purchase by India, Asian countries et cetera,” Ms Bockmann said. “That was well established.”
This tactic meant fewer ships needed to cross the Strait of Hormuz, but oil and liquefied natural gas could still make its way to global customers at scale.
US Encourages Ships to Pass via Southern Route
The US has been encouraging ships to pass via the southern route, insisting it is safe. After the memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Iran and the US, Tehran said the deal meant it would control the Strait of Hormuz. And even in recent days, Iran’s lead negotiator has pointed to specific language in the MOU behind Tehran’s claim.
The eight words behind Iran’s claim over the Strait of Hormuz Iran’s lead negotiator makes it very clear where the regime stands on the Strait of Hormuz.
Increased Traffic and Tensions
The MOU led to increased traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, but still Tehran was insisting vessels take the northern corridor, declaring all other routes “unauthorised”. Ms Bockmann said after the MOU was signed, Gulf states began to use the southern corridor in “greater numbers” and it became a practical alternative to the Iran-approved route. Then the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) announced a plan to evacuate vessels from the Persian Gulf, and traffic increased further.
Ms Bockmann believed that Iran moved on the southern corridor when its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz started to slide. “I think what it’s all about is the sheer volume going through,” she said. “If you look at the targets — the vessels that have been attacked — Iran has been highly, highly targeted.”
Tanker Targets
Gulf states have been bearing the brunt of Iran’s retaliation to US strikes. American military bases have been struck, as well as civilian infrastructure in countries like the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Last week, three commercial tankers were struck. Iran did not explicitly claim responsibility but said it had fired “warning shots” at vessels using the southern corridor.
The US blamed Tehran and launched strikes at Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) installations along the Iranian coastline, which then prompted retaliatory strikes targeting Gulf states. The tit-for-tat strikes have continued since, and now US President Donald Trump is saying the ceasefire is over and the blockade is back, while Tehran is saying the Strait of Hormuz is again closed.
How Iran Used the Break in the Blockade to Rake In Billions
The ceasefire between the United States and Iran is fraying, but Tehran made its move when the blockade lifted weeks ago. Two of the tankers hit last week belonged to Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with the third believed to belong to the UAE, transiting
Original Article: These tankers chose a Strait of Hormuz route, triggered Iran and lit up the Gulf — Net