Why is Iran stepping up tanker attacks amid peace talks? The high-risk strategy behind the Hormuz escalation

Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war have gained momentum, yet oil tankers continue to be attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf. The recent incidents, including one where a vessel was damaged in UAE territorial waters and another where four crew members were injured, raise questions about Iran's motivations behind these high-risk attacks.

Some speculate that Tehran is using commercial shipping as a bargaining chip, while others believe the Revolutionary Guards are risking a wider confrontation with the United States. The attacks have intensified recently, with 37 ships attacked in October and 10 more in November, according to Reuters. The International Maritime Organisation has documented 130 maritime incidents across the region, resulting in at least 25 seafarers' deaths.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been targeting shipping routes, warning vessels against using unauthorized paths and asserting control over the waterway that carries a significant portion of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. The maritime confrontation has turned commercial shipping into an instrument of pressure in the wider conflict, threatening vessels and crews not involved in the conflict.