Iran's deployment of swarms of small, fast boats to seize two container vessels near the Strait of Hormuz has sparked renewed concerns over maritime security. The incidents challenge assertions that US forces have neutralized Tehran's naval capabilities and underscore the difficulties in securing a vital global oil route.
Speedboat operations are now part of a broader 'layered system of threats,' according to Greek maritime security firm Diaplous, as reported by Reuters. This system integrates shore-based missiles, drones, mines, and electronic interference to create uncertainty and slow decision-making.
Unlike earlier incidents, these fast boats were not targeting large, unarmed commercial vessels and were less heavily armed. However, Iran's Revolutionary Guards possess heavy machine guns, rocket launchers, and, in some cases, anti-ship missiles. Since the conflict began on February 28, around 100 or more of these boats may have been destroyed, said Corey Ranslem, CEO of Dryad Global.
US President Donald Trump had previously acknowledged that while Iran's conventional navy had been largely destroyed, its fast-attack ships were not initially seen as a significant threat. This assessment is now being questioned. Trump warned that any such vessels approaching a US blockade outside the strait would be 'immediately ELIMINATED' using the same system of kill employed in the Caribbean and Pacific, where US air strikes have targeted suspected drug boats, killing at least 110 people.
Before the war, Iran was believed to possess hundreds, if not thousands, of these small, fast boats, often concealed in coastal tunnels, naval bases, or among civilian vessels, according to maritime security experts.
'The civilian shipping industry is not equipped to prevent Iranian armed forces from seizing vessels,' said Daniel Mueller, senior analyst at British maritime security firm Ambrey. Including this week's incidents, Iran has deployed small, fast boats in at least seven operations since 2019, Mueller added.
These fast boats have become the 'backbone' of Iran's naval strategy, enabling rapid deployment as part of its asymmetrical war against the enemy, a senior Iranian security official told Reuters. 'Because of their very high speeds, these boats can successfully carry out hit-and-run attacks without being detected,' the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Prior to this week, Iran had largely relied on missile and drone strikes to target shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.
