Iran Says It Attacked Seven Oil Tankers in the Strait of Hormuz

Seven oil tankers caught fire or were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz overnight after being hit by Iran or striking naval mines, Tehran said, amid growing concerns about a return to full-scale war, Melanie Lidman reported for The Associated Press (AP).

Oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz face heightened risks as Iran reports damage to seven vessels amid rising regional tensions.

With Israel’s closely contested election approaching and the US midterm elections scheduled for next month, there are concerns that US-Israeli attacks on Iran could resume.

Rising prices linked to the conflict have also fueled voter anger in the United States.

“Netanyahu wants to attack Iran, that’s not even a question,” Danny Citrinowicz, a researcher at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and a former Iran specialist in the country’s military and intelligence services, told AP.

Citrinowicz accused Israel of moving toward another round of conflict with Iran without revising its strategy.

He said a clear victory for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oct. 27 election would make another attack almost certain. Although opposition candidates are likely to prioritize domestic issues, Citrinowicz said he believed the region was heading toward “another kinetic escalation.”