Iran and U.S. trade fresh attacks in struggle over the Strait of Hormuz

The struggle over the Strait of Hormuz has produced the first military clashes between Iran and the United States in about a month, as Washington works to reopen the oil route and Tehran tries to keep it under pressure.

Iran has used control of the strait as its main leverage in the war that began on Feb. 28. It has nearly halted oil exports and demanded that ships obtain permission to cross. Tehran also says it wants to retain control after the war and charge fees for navigation, security and environmental services on the waterway, through which 20% of crude flowed before the conflict.

In recent weeks, the United States has helped restore part of the maritime traffic along a southern route near Oman, according to oil and Middle East experts. Hamidreza Azizi, an analyst with the Crisis Group, said Washington was using small tankers, nighttime navigation and ship-to-ship transfers, often with transponders switched off.

“

The broader picture is becoming clearer. Washington appears to believe it has regained the initiative by creating and protecting a limited maritime corridor. Tehran is trying to prevent that situation from becoming entrenched.

Oil exports through the strait reached 4.2 million barrels per day in the past week, TankerTrackers reported, still far below the 20 million barrels per day recorded before the conflict. Eurasia Group analyst Gregory Brew said the United States was helping move oil through the waterway.

The latest exchange began when U.S. forces attacked Larak Island. Washington said Iranian forces there were preparing to launch rockets carrying naval mines into the strait. The United States said last week that it had cleared the passage of mines. Two people were killed in the attack. Iran then struck U.S. bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, apparently without causing damage.

Azizi said Washington appeared to believe it had regained the initiative by creating and protecting a limited maritime corridor, while Tehran was trying to stop that arrangement from becoming permanent. Brew said the pattern could continue, with U.S. tankers using the strait, Iran disrupting commerce, occasional U.S. strikes and proportional Iranian responses.

“

The United States sends tankers through Hormuz, Iran does everything possible to stop or hinder trade, the United States occasionally attacks Iranian targets and Iran responds proportionally.