Iran is seemingly challenging the Gulf and the US with its recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has, currently, shaken the hornet’s nest by attacking a Qatari vessel. Qatar is enraged by this, as evidenced by its Foreign Ministry's reaction.
It is unclear why Iran has chosen to escalate at this point. NATO will soon be meeting in Turkey, and Turkey is a close friend and ally of Qatar.
Dr. Majed Al-Ansari, an advisor to Qatar’s prime minister and spokesperson of the Foreign ministry, wrote that “the targeting of the Qatari vessel Al-Rekayyat while [it was] transiting near the Strait of Hormuz constitutes an unacceptable attack on the security and safety of international maritime navigation, the security of global energy supplies, and a grave and explicit violation of international law, particularly the rules guaranteeing [the] freedom of navigation and safe passage through international waterways.”
He added: “We demand that the Islamic Republic of Iran immediately cease all practices that undermine regional security or threaten the safety of international maritime navigation, and refrain from endangering global energy supplies and the resources of the countries of the region in pursuit of narrow interests.”
Qatar calls out Iran for attacks
Al-Ansari is explicitly calling out Iran. This illustrates how enraged Qatar is by the recent attack. “We hold it fully legally responsible for this attack and for any resulting damages and consequences,” he said.
Al Ain News, a media site based in the UAE, noted: “Three attacks on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours have reignited tensions in the international waterway.”
The report added that the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that two oil tankers had been attacked while crossing the strait. That report also mentioned an unidentified projectile.
“Less than two hours later, the authority announced that it had received a report of another incident involving an oil tanker crossing the Strait of Hormuz,” the report stated.
The report then said that the tanker was hit by an “unidentified drone, which caused minor damage to its structure.” The report clarified that “there were no injuries or environmental impacts, and the ship continues its journey to its next destination.”
However, the report noted that Iran had not taken responsibility for these attacks. Despite this, Qatar, on Tuesday, blamed Iran for the attack on its tanker the previous day. This may cast a shadow over the Memorandum of Understanding that the US signed with Iran; it could also affect the talks that were supposed to continue between the US and Iran.
China testing a nuclear-capable missile?
Iran’s purported attacks come after reports of China testing a nuclear-capable missile from a submarine in the Pacific. According to another report, Australia and the Solomon Islands vowed stronger ties following the test. The Guardian noted that Australia had said the test could have caused “considerable damage” if weaponized.
Meanwhile, North Korea’s leader observed a naval destroyer launch a strategic cruise missile. Both tests illustrate that there is currently a naval arms race. Many countries have the capacity to threaten key waterways or shipping transit points. The Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait (which connects the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean) are just two examples.
Iran has repeatedly used maritime threats in the Gulf as tools of its regional strategy. During the Tanker War of the 1980s, Iranian and Iraqi forces attacked commercial shipping and oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. This led to international naval escorts.
In 2019, Iran launched a series of tanker attacks using limpet mines and harassed commercial vessels. Iran’s network of regional partners has expanded the range of its maritime threat. The Iranian-backed Houthis have targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which forced many shipping companies to reroute vessels around Africa.
During the most recent war, the Iranians blockaded the Strait of Hormuz. The US responded by blockading Iran in turn. After the MoU deal in June, the strait was supposed to be opened, but Iran has continued to make threats.