Iran has a history of interfering with U.S. and Israeli shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The tactics include direct seizures, harassment, and detaining vessels, usually when geopolitical tensions spike.
During the Tanker War in 1987–1988, Iran targeted oil tankers with missiles and mines. Some of these ships flew U.S. flags. The U.S. responded with naval retaliation under Operation Earnest Will.
The record shows mixed results for direct action against Israeli interests. In 2015, Iran detained the U.S.-flagged MV Maersk Tigris after it allegedly violated Iranian waters. In 2019, Iran seized the British-flagged Stena Impero, which was later released. Neither incident involved seizing an Israeli-flagged vessel.
Indirect targeting appears more common. In 2021, Iran detained multiple tankers, including one carrying Israeli-linked cargo. A year later, in 2022, it seized a Greek-flagged tanker carrying Israeli oil. This demonstrates a pattern of targeting Israeli interests through third-party vessels.
Iran’s actions toward U.S. vessels are more direct and frequent. These include boarding and detaining U.S.-flagged commercial ships. Actions toward Israeli shipping rely on ambiguity. Iran targets vessels suspected of carrying Israeli cargo or owned by Israeli-linked entities, often under flags of convenience.
Frequency escalates during U.S. sanctions enforcement, nuclear deal breakdowns, or regional conflicts. Examples include the post-2018 U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the 2020 Soleimani strike.
No verified incident shows Iran detaining a vessel solely because it flew the Israeli flag. Instead, Iran exploits flag-of-convenience ambiguity to target Israeli-linked cargo.
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