Iran is using its 1980s playbook, plus drones, to cripple global shipping

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.During the Tanker War of the 1980s, Iran used missiles, mines and speed boats to assert its control over the Strait of Hormuz. Back then, it took an extensive naval operation, including the destruction of command posts on offshore oil platforms by U.S. Marines, to break Tehran’s hold.This time around, in addition to its earlier playbook, Iran has a legion of attack drones which are serving as a significant force multiplier.

And the U.S. Navy has so far decided not to send warships to escort tankers and other vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf.After nearly a month of relative quiet around the strait amid a U.S.-Iran cease-fire, an initiative from President Trump to protect ships appeared to spark new Iranian attacks on vessels Monday.In fundamental ways, today’s standoff is very different from the Tanker War, which got its name from attacks both Iraq and Iran mounted on oil infrastructure during their lengthy conflict during the 1980s. Then, the U.S.

intervened to protect a handful of oil tankers caught in the crossfire.“Same actors, same patch of water, but very different politics and threat environment today,” said Tom Duffy, a retired U.S. diplomat and naval officer who this year published a book, “Tanker War in the Gulf.”Duffy said: “Arguably the Iranian strategy hasn’t changed in 50 years, a cost-imposition strategy” designed to put itself in control of regional waters.As Washington weighs responses in the current conflict, that war within a war four decades ago could still hold lessons.On Sunday, Trump said the U.S. would seek to guide ships aiming to transit the strait.