Iran escalates tanker attacks in Strait of Hormuz to pressure Washington

Iran has intensified attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to raise the cost of passage for the U.S. and leverage election-related pressure on President Trump. The escalation marks a deliberate strategy to use the strait as a coercive tool, with renewed tanker attacks signaling a shift from sporadic incidents to a sustained campaign. The immediate risk is disruption to global oil flows, though the full extent of the campaign and U.S. response remain uncertain.