Hormuz tanker risks feared
RISKS posed against tankers traversing the Strait of Hormuz are increasing as Iran threatens to push back against sanctions, a senior US maritime security analyst warned Fairplay today.

Concern is growing over a broad range of risks, from waterborne improvised explosive devices to harassment using small vessels to swarm tankers to impede the oil supply chain, said the analyst, who did not wish to be named.

Vessel operators navigating the strait have little room to navigate broadly because of the constricted geography, he explained: ¡°They can¡¯t change course quickly, and that makes them a bigger target.¡±

The assessment follows new intelligence cited by US government officials revealing that Iran has developed just such disruption contingency plans. These possible tactics, aimed at the international oil trade, include attacks on tankers and oil facilities.

Tehran officials, ranging all the way up to the top of Iran's government, have repeatedly threatened to block the strait in response to sanctions.

Senior Pentagon officials told the Wall Street Journal that it ¡°wouldn¡¯t be surprising to anyone if the Iranian regime was weighing a list of possible responses in the Gulf¡±.

The newspaper listed these as including underwater attacks on tankers in port by frogmen; the ¡®accidental¡¯ release of a mine in the Gulf that strikes a tanker; and attacks by proxies on oil pipelines and refineries in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates.

The maritime analyst told Fairplay: ¡°Because of the sanctions, Iran can¡¯t find countries to flag their ships, so they¡¯re having to use all kinds of subterfuge to try and get their oil out, and they¡¯re going to target the oil of the Western nations as payback.¡±