Iranian attacks on commercial shipping have increased across the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region, after a temporary lull in June during the short-lived US–Iran MoU. Since then, the number of attacks has risen significantly throughout July and August and has continued into September.
The changing pattern of these incidents is the focus of a new episode of Maritime Crossroads, featuring Marcus Hand, Editor of Seatrade Maritime News, and Noam Rayden, Senior Research Fellow at the Washington Institute of Near East Policy.
The discussion looks at how attacks against commercial vessels have developed as the Iran war has entered roughly its six-month mark, while examining where incidents are now most concentrated and what the latest trends could indicate for shipping in the region.
In this episode, Marcus Hand and Noam Rayden discuss some of the key developments that are shaping the security environment for commercial shipping in the Middle East.
The review of the attacks from June through August puts the changes in the frequency and pattern of incidents that followed the June lull in context.
The episode then dives into a granular analysis of attacks recorded in August, taking a closer look at the type and concentration of the attacks during a time when activity was on the rise again.
Another major focus is on Iran’s change of targeting strategy and how changes in the targeting of commercial shipping may be affecting the wider maritime operating environment.
The podcast also looks at the role of the US naval presence and blockade, and how the presence of US naval forces plays into the evolving situation around shipping in the region.
Finally the discussion turns to future implications for maritime security in the Middle East, what the ongoing attacks and changing patterns could mean for commercial vessels and regional maritime operations.
The episode aims to answer a core question: six months into the Iran war, how have Iranian attacks on commercial shipping changed, where are they focused today, and what may be coming next?
Listen to the full episode of Maritime Crossroads above.
