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 With renewed tanker attacks, Tehran is betting to make Hormuz passage costly enough for Washington and strengthen the tool with election-related pressure President Trump is currently facing.   (A correspondent in Tehran)   (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html) A correspondent in Tehran               (Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026.)      Ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026. — AFP via Getty Images      TEHRAN — (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/irans-irgc-says-5-killed-baluchistan-after-dismantling-militant-cell-what-know) Iran's navy claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the latest in a series of strikes targeting supertankers in the Strait of Hormuz. According to Fars News Agency, the vessel caught fire after ignoring warnings and attempting to leave through an unauthorized route.  Iranian forces offered a similar explanation for an attack on Monday. They also said a vessel struck a naval mine south of the strait on Sunday, triggering an explosion and fire in its engine room. The attacks came amid a broader surge in maritime incidents, which have further (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/10/hormuz-tanker-attacks-mount-putting-oil-flows-risk) disrupted oil exports through the waterway. The confrontation is escalating on both sides. Over the weekend, US forces disabled a commercial vessel, the Ocean Molica, which Washington said was attempting to breach its naval blockade of Iranian ports.     SUBSCRIBER EXCLUSIVE   Continue reading this exclusive analysis   Original reporting and analysis unavailable elsewhere. 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(https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html) (A correspondent in Tehran)     (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html) A correspondent in Tehran  In Tehran , reporting on politics       (A tugboat guides a ship at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on July 14, 2026.)    Analysis   (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/could-irans-7-day-hormuz-proposal-culminate-diplomatic-deal) Could Iran's 7-day Hormuz proposal culminate in diplomatic deal?    (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html) (A correspondent in Tehran)     (https://www.al-monitor.com/authors/an-al-monitor-correspondent-in-t.html) A correspondent in Tehran  In Tehran , reporting on politics       (Houthi fighters marching)    Analysis   (https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/how-far-will-iran-push-houthis-against-saudi-arabia-amid-raging-conflict) How far will Iran push Houthis against Saudi Arabia amid raging conflict?    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