Iran sets crosshairs on ‘US-UAE’ oil shuttle out of Strait of Hormuz

What the report says

Iran has signaled that it is targeting a maritime shuttle system used to move crude oil out of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera. The report says Iranian authorities, including a security chief cited in the article, described the route as part of a US-assisted and UAE-linked operation that helps Gulf exporters move oil around disruptions in the waterway.

The article places the developments in the context of the wider US-Iran confrontation and the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States. It says the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy shipments, has seen sharply reduced traffic after Iranian attacks and US military measures. The shuttle system described by Al Jazeera uses larger tankers and smaller vessels, with coordination near Oman’s coast, to move crude beyond the strait.

Al Jazeera reports that Iran has recently warned of attacks on vessels in the area and that multiple ships were struck overnight Sunday to Monday, including tankers and a vessel near Sohar in Oman. The report also says Tehran has threatened broader pressure on infrastructure linked to the UAE and accused Saudi Arabia of helping with oil transport, though it stopped short of direct threats against Riyadh.

The article says the attacks are raising freight costs, discouraging tanker traffic and increasing risks for Gulf energy exports. Maritime analysts quoted by Al Jazeera said the shuttle route had helped preserve trade, but also appeared to be becoming a larger target as Iran sought leverage over Hormuz.